Re: [pdf-devel] Any idea about solving CMap problem?

[Kobayashi Noritada]

Hi,

From: jemarch at gnu.org
Subject: Re: [pdf-devel] Any idea about solving CMap problem?
Date: Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:08:04 +0100

> 
>    address@hidden wrote:
>    > In fact we found the same problem while distributing GNU ghostscript
>    > (http://www.gnu.org/software/ghostscript). We are unable to include
>    > the Adobe CMap files in our distribution. 
>    > 
>    > Now, we could try to ask Adobe to relicense the maps (a formal
> 
>    That sounds great!
> 
> Maybe we could do it along with Debian in order to achieve a better
> effect.

After the recent discussions on debian-legal[1][2], the consensus will
be like this: Adobe does not have any copyright for CMaps and their
prohibition carries no legal force since such mapping files probably
constitute "database" under UK law (and in other EU jurisdictions).
How are opinions of GNU and FSF in terms of copyrightivity?  I wish
GNU, Debian, and FLOSS PS/PDF projects could share the view on this
issue.

[1] http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2007/11/threads.html#00269
[2] http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2007/12/threads.html#00015

Many thanks,

-nori