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

["Dr. Adrian Wrigley" <amtw@linuxchip.demon.co.uk.uk.uk>]

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?
2) AdaCore and others say they never granted licences under GMGPL?
3) the licences were granted and are still in force?
4) all licencing terms embedded in the distributions are repudiated?
5) the SW is Free (in http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html terms)?

(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?

Thanks.
--
Dr. Adrian Wrigley,
Cambridge.