Re: libpcap GPL compatible??? I don't think so :(....

[seberino () spawar navy mil]

GPL compatibility may be easier than originally anticipated....

The MIT X11 license (aka "modified BSD license") 
(http://www.x.org/Downloads_terms.html)
addresses all the same issues as current libpcap license.  It is widely known
to be GPL compatible.

This license requires all distributions to have copyright
and permission notices and protects authors from undesirable
advertising and promotion like current libpcap license.

It may even be true that current libpcap license is GPL compatible
after all.  (I'm not a lawyer.)

Since the only difference between libpcap license and X11 licenses
are minor.... it would seem that changing libpcap license to the
widely peer reviewed X11 license would be easiest way to remove
any uncertainties about GPL compatibility.

This would also be in libpcap and it's authors interest too since
it gives same protections and rights
while avoiding unforeseen problems.... one can never be sure
by rewording something that no "legal bugs" won't get introducted.

Just my $0.02.

Sincerely,

Chris



On Thu, May 15, 2003 at 02:01:40PM +0200, Loris Degioanni wrote:
> No problem at all from the Politecno di Torino folks. I'll modify the
> licence of our files and update them on the CVS.
>
> Loris
>
> > On Wed, May 14, 2003 at 09:12:37AM -0700, seberino () spawar navy mil wrote:
> > > libpcap license has requirement to print a notice.
> > >
> > > I think this makes it incompatible with GPL code.
> > >
> > > Any hope to license it under MODIFIED BSD license???
> >
> > I have no problem with doing so.
> >
> > However, unless the UC Berkeley letter converting all the BSD code to
> > the modified BSD license also covers libpcap, which, although I think it
> > was included in at least the more recent BSD releases from UCB, was
> > originally separate from BSD and wasn't developed by the same group as
> > BSD, we'd have to get the permission of, at least, the LBL folks who
> > wrote it in the first place, as well as the Politecno di Torino folks
> > who did the WinPcap stuff.  (I don't see any 4-clause BSD license code
> > in the top-level libpcap directory that mentions anybody other than LBL
> > or the Politecno di Torino.)
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-- 
_______________________________________

Dr. Christian Seberino
SPAWAR Systems Center San Diego
Code 2872
49258 Mills Street, Room 158
San Diego, CA 92152-5385
U.S.A.

Phone: (619) 553-9973
Fax:   (619) 553-6521
Email: seberino () spawar navy mil
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