Licensing issue
fgm - November 18, 2008 - 11:18
| Project: | Drupal.org infrastructure |
| Component: | Other |
| Category: | task |
| Priority: | normal |
| Assigned: | Unassigned |
| Status: | active |
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Description
The newly publishde barcode module ( http://drupal.org/project/barcode ) includes the Arialbd.ttf file, but although it is very popular, this is not a free font. It is under the Monotype copyright and could land its author and d.o. some legal problems.
#1
Also, I noticed that the original barcode class by Harish Chauhan has been published as "freeware" ( http://www.phpclasses.org/browse/package/2441.html ) , not GPL2. It *think* this should be compatible, but this might need to be checked too.
#2
It appears that somebody pointed this out to the author and he removed the arial ttf from cvs, I've also removed it from the server.
I am not sure how to interpret "freeware".
#3
I think the best avenue would be for the author to obtain an actual message from the original author of that file granting a GPL2 and later license. AFAIK the GPL should be valid under indian law, so it would be even better for him.
#4
I agree, fgm can you contact the contributor and ask him to get this permission from the original author?
#5
"Freeware" is not GPL-compatible. The conventional interpretation of that term as far as I am aware is "proprietary but no charge". That is not GPL compatible.
The module author would need to include a statement from the original author in CVS releasing the module under the GPL, or a GPL-compatible license (eg, BSD). Whether or not we'll allow it in CVS as a 3rd party bit of code in the first place I leave to killes.
#6
Done, I've written the original class author and BCC'ed you, asking him to join us and confirm the license on his class.
#7
Have there been any replies, from the original author?