guix-devel
[Top][All Lists]
Advanced

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: [PATCH] gnu: Add Biopython.


From: John Darrington
Subject: Re: [PATCH] gnu: Add Biopython.
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2015 15:02:09 +0200
User-agent: Mutt/1.5.21 (2010-09-15)

On Thu, Apr 16, 2015 at 11:00:30AM +0200, Andreas Enge wrote:
     
     It starts like this:
     "Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
     documentation with or without modifications and for any purpose and
     without fee is hereby granted"
     
     Does the provision "without fee" make it non-free?
     
I don't think it does.

From a native English speaker's perspective, I think it is free.  It 
says "for any purpose".    Ipso facto, "any purpose" embraces for the purpose
of pecuniary gain through charges for distribution.

The important words are: "Permission ... without fee ... is hereby granted."
In other words, the licensor does not demand a fee before granting that 
permission.
If it had said "Permission ... upon payment of fee ... will be granted". Then 
that
would have made the thing non-free.

I think the confusion is arising because some people might interpret 
"for any purpose and without fee" to mean: "for any purpose except distribution 
in exchange for a fee ..."

Maybe the licensors should amend the text just to avoid this possible 
misunderstanding, but in the meantime I don't think it is a problem.

(I am not a lawyer.  But I am also not illiterate.)

J'

-- 
PGP Public key ID: 1024D/2DE827B3 
fingerprint = 8797 A26D 0854 2EAB 0285  A290 8A67 719C 2DE8 27B3
See http://sks-keyservers.net or any PGP keyserver for public key.

Attachment: signature.asc
Description: Digital signature


reply via email to

[Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread]