Re: Ada in Debian: most libraries will switch to the pure GPL in Etch

["Ludovic Brenta" <ludovic@ludovic-brenta.org>]

Dr. Adrian Wrigley wrote :
> On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 03:58:40 -0700, Ludovic Brenta wrote:
>
> > I received detailed answers from AdaCore's Robert Dewar and Arnaud
> > Charlet regarding the licenses of software downloaded from their
> > servers.  In summary:
> >
> > - All software downloaded from AdaCore is pure GPL, no matter what the
> >   headers say.
> >
> > - This also applies to software downloaded from the CVS server in
> >   source-only form.
> >
> > - They refuse to give any assurances regarding copyright ownership, so
> >   I feel that I now need to go ask the authors.
> >
> > - They will not sign a license document, even if a lawyer asked them
> >   (they are not required to sign anything, of course).
>
> I'm a little confused by all this...
>
> Can you tell us which combination of the following is true, from
> what you understand:
>
> 1) the GMGPL licences issued by AdaCode and others are being revoked?

Switched to pure GPL, not revoked. The "linking and generic
instantiation" exception is revoked.

> 2) AdaCore and others say they never granted licences under GMGPL?

They don't say that, but they refuse to give details on when the switch
took place. I don't know. Ask them. From a theoretical standpoint, I am
indeed quite worried that I have downloaded and redistributed AdaCore's
software, thinking in good faith I had the right to do so when in fact
I didn't, since I didn't have written permission from any of the
copyright holders. Remember, the headers amount to naught from a legal
perspective. Practically speaking, I don't think AdaCore will sue me,
or anyone else, for that. IANAL.

> 3) the licences were granted and are still in force?

I don't know. I asked but they wouldn't go into specifics. Ask them for
yourself, if you're concerned.

> 4) all licencing terms embedded in the distributions are repudiated?

They never had any legal force; only a signed statement from the
copyright holder has legal force.

> 5) the SW is Free (in http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html terms)?

Yes, since it is under GPL. That much they are willing to say and
certify, but not in writing :(

> (does this cover the basic possibilities?)
>
> the code in question being GtkAda, libgnat, GLADE, etc.
>
> In some cases (GtkAda?), the original authors transferred copyright to
> AdaCore(?) - did the original authors revoke or repudiate the licences
> in effecting this transfer?

As I explained above, I don't know, and AdaCore refused to tell me. Ask
each author individually.

-- 
Ludovic Brenta.