Re: [gNewSense-users] BSD code

[Sam Geeraerts]

Peter and Jesse wrote:
> > This is the same issue that happens with cdrtools. The software is
> > entirely free, without question, just incompatible.
> >
> > It's why I prefer the ISC license or 3-clause BSD, it's just much simpler. :)
> >
> > Has anyone contacted the copyright holder on this? Most BSD-licensed
> > code will be easily re-licensed under the GPL-compatible 3-clause if
> > requested.
>
> I don't think we've actually found any code that has a GPL-incompatible
> free license. You're probably right, though, that if we do, we should
> contact the copyright holder. If he's OK with changing to modified BSD,
> that makes everything easier.
>  Peter

I haven't looked at the actual file, but judging from its KFV wiki page 
I don't think we can just assume the license to be modified BSD. 
Although the update statement does suggest that, it's language is too 
vague to say for sure.

- It talks about copyright instead of a license.
- It doesn't specify what the change was.
- It talks about an unspecified module-only restriction (probably a 
construction in the code, which would be irrelevant, but one should be 
wary when restrictions are mentioned in the context of libre licenses).

Remember that you thought it was under the original BSD license yourself 
(and you weren't alone in that), which suggests that some clarification 
is needed.