In PortableXDR [0] we have used some old (1988) Sun RPC code which has the license text below. The question arose during review for inclusion in Fedora[1] what this license is, and whether it can be included in Fedora.
Note that this code has been extensively used and modified all over the place, so if this license isn't free, and if Sun didn't relicense it since 1988, then we may have a problem.
For example, glibc: http://sourceware.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/libc/sunrpc/xdr.c?rev=1.28&cont...
also in FreeBSD: http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/src/lib/libc/xdr/xdr.c?rev=1.15
Suggestions?
Rich.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- * Sun RPC is a product of Sun Microsystems, Inc. and is provided for * unrestricted use provided that this legend is included on all tape * media and as a part of the software program in whole or part. Users * may copy or modify Sun RPC without charge, but are not authorized * to license or distribute it to anyone else except as part of a product or * program developed by the user. * * SUN RPC IS PROVIDED AS IS WITH NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND INCLUDING THE * WARRANTIES OF DESIGN, MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR * PURPOSE, OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE OR TRADE PRACTICE. * * Sun RPC is provided with no support and without any obligation on the * part of Sun Microsystems, Inc. to assist in its use, correction, * modification or enhancement. * * SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE * INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHTS, TRADE SECRETS OR ANY PATENTS BY SUN RPC * OR ANY PART THEREOF. * * In no event will Sun Microsystems, Inc. be liable for any lost revenue * or profits or other special, indirect and consequential damages, even if * Sun has been advised of the possibility of such damages. * * Sun Microsystems, Inc. * 2550 Garcia Avenue * Mountain View, California 94043 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
[0] http://et.redhat.com/~rjones/portablexdr/ [1] https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=467324
On Thu, 2008-12-18 at 14:50 +0000, Richard W.M. Jones wrote:
In PortableXDR [0] we have used some old (1988) Sun RPC code which has the license text below. The question arose during review for inclusion in Fedora[1] what this license is, and whether it can be included in Fedora.
Note that this code has been extensively used and modified all over the place, so if this license isn't free, and if Sun didn't relicense it since 1988, then we may have a problem.
Yes, we have a problem. We've been trying to work with Sun to relicense this code under something free and GPL compatible, but things are moving slowly on this front.
Until this issue is resolved, nothing new can come into Fedora under that license. I'll try to poke Sun again today.
Thanks,
~spot