[jdev] Jabberd 1.4.x license concerns/questions

[Bresler, Jonathan]

What is the issue/point of disagreement 
Regarding combining GPL'ed software with 
OpenSSL ?

Jonathan

-----Original Message-----
From: jdev-bounces at jabber.org [mailto:jdev-bounces at jabber.org] On Behalf Of Tijl Houtbeckers
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005 12:41 PM
To: Jabber software development list
Subject: Re: [jdev] Jabberd 1.4.x license concerns/questions


On Fri, 01 Apr 2005 19:13:09 +0200, Jamin W.Collins  
<jcollins at asgardsrealm.net> wrote:

>
> On Apr 1, 2005, at 10:02 AM, Peter Saint-Andre wrote:
>>
>> The dual-licensing goes back a long time. What would be involved in
>> licensing it solely under the GPL? Obviously the jabberd2 folks did
>> that and it seems conceptually simpler than dual-licensing.
>
> Well, if all the files were dual licensed, then upstream could simply  
> make the changes to the file headers and release under just the GPL,  
> just as anyone receiving the dual licensed version could.
>
> However, there is also a problem with GPL and OpenSSL linking.  As I  
> understand it, the common solution to this problem is to add a license  
> exception that specifically allows linking with OpenSSL.  However, this  
> would require acceptance from each contributor as I understand it.   
> Without such an exception I'm pretty sure that no one would be able to  
> legally distribute an OpenSSL linked version.

The advertising clause right? Well there are a few things you can do. >From  
easy and not so legal to perfectly legal with a lot of effort.

- not care cause it's unlikely the OpenSSL team cares. Ofcourse, Debian  
etc. cares..
- not distribute with OpenSSL, dynamically link against it. If OpenSSL is  
considered "part of the operating system" this is legal, not everyone  
agrees with that though.
- put in the OpenSSL advertising clause. It's not a crime to credit them.   
Still GPL puritans will care.
- put a "special exception" for linking against OpenSSL in the license.  
Just put it there, don't tell anyone ;) Hope you don't upset anyone.
- the above, but the "legal" way. Ask every contributer to the current  
codebase (wether is was under GPL or under JOSL) for permission to do that.
- Haress the OpenSSL people to drop the advertising clause. (how legal  
this is depends on your method of haressing)
- Dump OpenSSL in favor of GNU TLS or something else GPL (compatible).
- Drop GPL and go with JOSL only license ;)
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