Hi there, Here is the answer from Nuno Brito, from the FSF: On 29/11/2013 22:18, Nuno Brito via RT wrote: > Hi Pierre, > > I can't speak for the FSF but personally I am a fan of ReactOS since > some 7 years now and been following (to some point) your progress and > hardships. You guys do a great work. > > In regards to the MS-LPL, there is point 3.F of the license to consider: >> (F) Platform Limitation - The licenses granted in sections 2(A) and > 2(B) extend only >to the software or derivative works that you create > that run directly on a Microsoft >Windows operating system product, > Microsoft run-time technology (such as the .NET >Framework or > Silverlight), or Microsoft application platform (such as Microsoft >> Office or Microsoft Dynamics). > Since ReactOS is not mentioned as a valid platform on this article, your > rights to the code should be interpreted without the "Grant of Rights" > section: > >> 2. Grant of Rights >> (A) Copyright Grant - Subject to the terms of this license, including > the license >conditions and limitations in section 3, each contributor > grants you a non-exclusive, >worldwide, royalty-free copyright license > to reproduce its contribution, prepare >derivative works of its > contribution, and distribute its contribution or any >derivative works > that you create. >> (B) Patent Grant - Subject to the terms of this license, including the > license >conditions and limitations in section 3, each contributor > grants you a non-exclusive, >worldwide, royalty-free license under its > licensed patents to make, have made, use, >sell, offer for sale, import, > and/or otherwise dispose of its contribution in the >software or > derivative works of the contribution in the software. > > So, I would say that point F in section 3 removes your rights (as > provided by Microsoft) to the source code under the MS-LPL. > > One possible route is contacting the IP department at Microsoft and > negotiate an agreement that basically allows ReactOS to proceed with > this goal using an explicit permission from Microsoft. This is not an > easy approach, even if the company is willing to negotiate (at no cost > since ReactOS is a non-profit organization), I can imagine that you will > need to analyze the contract terms quite thoroughly to ensure it is a > fair agreement (and compatible with the FOSS licensing model). > > You should find an email contact point at > http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/IntellectualProperty/IPLicensing/Policy.aspx > > Hope this helps. > > With kind regards, > Nuno Brito > >
So, it sounds like we cannot include any MS-LPL code in our trunk without any prior legal work. Regards, Pierre On 29/11/2013 20:35, Pierre Schweitzer wrote: > The April couldn't give a precise answer. I've moved to the FSF and > opened a ticket there. > > I will keep you informed. > > On 29/11/2013 20:31, Aleksey Bragin wrote: >> To give you my position: >> 1. Current FAT driver in ReactOS needs to die away. I am testing all >> my new code with the MS's FASTFAT driver. >> 2. Lawyers advice is needed whether we can distribute it. >> >> Regards, >> Aleksey Bragin >> >> On 29.11.2013 21:55, Hermès BÉLUSCA - MAÏTO wrote: >>> Nice idea Pierre! >>> >>> About this license we're talking about: yes I understand as >>> Aleksander: that >>> you can only use fastfat or derived works from it, on an (authentic) >>> Windows >>> OS (just my 2 cents, I'm not a lawyer too). >>> >>> Hermès. >>> >>> -----Message d'origine----- >>> De : ros-dev-boun...@reactos.org [mailto:ros-dev-boun...@reactos.org] >>> De la >>> part de Pierre Schweitzer >>> Envoyé : vendredi 29 novembre 2013 18:24 >>> À : ros-dev@reactos.org >>> Objet : Re: [ros-dev] [ros-diffs] [ekohl] 61145: [FASTFAT] >>> FsdGetFsVolumeInformation: Return volume creation time. >>> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> Let's the experts do. >>> >>> I've contacted the April (French association which mission is to >>> promote and >>> defend FOSS). They can answer about licensing issues (they propose it >>> through their contact form). >>> >>> I'll keep you informed with their answers, highlights, and so on. >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> On 11/29/2013 06:05 PM, Alexander Andrejevic wrote: >>>> I suppose it depends on how you interpret it. >>>> To me, "...extend only to the software or derivative works that you >>>> create that run on a Microsoft Windows operating system product" >>>> sounds like the program must run on Windows exclusively. It's not "... >>>> that you create to run ...", but "... that you create that run ...". >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> Alexander >>>> >>>> On Fri, Nov 29, 2013 at 05:55:08PM +0100, David Quintana (gigaherz) >>>> wrote: >>>>> I do not agree on the "unless it's on Microsoft Windows" part. The >>>>> license grants apply if it is "created to run directly" on windows, >>>>> which I understand as "it can run anywhere else, also, just as long >>>>> as it runs in windows without an intermediary". >>>>> >>>>> On 29 November 2013 17:51, Alexander Andrejevic >>>>> <thefl...@sdf.lonestar.org> wrote: >>>>>> Fastfat is located inside its own binary, so this is considered >>>>>> "mere aggregation", and that is not the problem. (See >>> https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#MereAggregation). >>>>>> The problem is that you don't even have a license to use it or >>>>>> distribute it, unless it's on Microsoft Windows. >>>>>> Then again, I'm not a lawyer either and I could be wrong too. It >>>>>> would be great if someone who knows a lot about licenses explained >>>>>> this. >>>>>> >>>>>> Regards, >>>>>> Alexander >>>>>> >>>>>> On Fri, Nov 29, 2013 at 05:35:21PM +0100, David Quintana (gigaherz) >>> wrote: >>>>>>> The exact words of the license, as seen at >>>>>>> http://www.ohloh.net/licenses/mslpl (I couldn't find a better link >>>>>>> for it), are: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> "4. (F) Platform Limitation- The licenses granted in sections 2(A) >>>>>>> & >>>>>>> 2(B) extend only to the software or derivative works that you >>>>>>> create that run on a Microsoft Windows operating system product." >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Excluding that term, the rest of the license is mostly a >>>>>>> differently-worded BSD license. If it only needs to be tested in >>>>>>> windows to ensure that it works there, then there should be >>>>>>> absolutely no problem including it in ReactOS, as long as the terms >>>>>>> don't conflict with the other licenses' terms. And GPL with the >>>>>>> ReactOS exception, as far as I can tell, allows it. I'm not a >>>>>>> lawyer, though, so I could be wrong. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On 29 November 2013 16:17, Alexander Andrejevic >>>>>>> <thefl...@sdf.lonestar.org> wrote: >>>>>>>> Hi Ged, >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Are you sure that we can use software released under the MS-LPL? >>>>>>>> It has a rather weird limitation in section 4, which says that >>>>>>>> you can >>> only use it on a "Microsoft Windows operating system product". >>>>>>>> Since ReactOS is not Windows, that would mean we can't use it. >>>>>>>> Please correct me if I'm wrong. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Regards, >>>>>>>> Alexander >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Fri, Nov 29, 2013 at 02:58:51PM -0000, Ged Murphy wrote: >>>>>>>>> Hi Eric, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I know this has been discussed before, but should we not just bite >>> the bullet and replace this driver with the Microsoft driver. >>>>>>>>> The MS_LPL license allows it to be used in reactos, and it would >>> certainly get rid of any unknowns and give us a reliable filesystem >>> to work >>> from. >>>>>>>>> http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowshardware/fastfat-File-Syste >>>>>>>>> m-Driver-135bdf34/view/SourceCode >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Ged. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>>>>> From: ros-diffs-boun...@reactos.org >>>>>>>>> [mailto:ros-diffs-boun...@reactos.org] On Behalf Of >>>>>>>>> ek...@svn.reactos.org >>>>>>>>> Sent: 29 November 2013 14:06 >>>>>>>>> To: ros-di...@reactos.org >>>>>>>>> Subject: [ros-diffs] [ekohl] 61145: [FASTFAT] >>> FsdGetFsVolumeInformation: Return volume creation time. >>>>>>>>> Author: ekohl >>>>>>>>> Date: Fri Nov 29 14:05:43 2013 >>>>>>>>> New Revision: 61145 >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Ros-dev mailing list >> Ros-dev@reactos.org >> http://www.reactos.org/mailman/listinfo/ros-dev > > > > _______________________________________________ > Ros-dev mailing list > Ros-dev@reactos.org > http://www.reactos.org/mailman/listinfo/ros-dev -- Pierre Schweitzer<pierre at reactos.org> System Administrator ReactOS Foundation
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