simple-xml_2.1.5-1_i386.changes REJECTED

Fabian Köster koesterreich at gmx.net
Sat Nov 28 17:04:13 UTC 2009


Hello!

> I am rejecting simple-xml.  Debian/copyright states the files are LGPL-2.1
>  but I cannot find anywhere in the file headers nor any COPYING or LICENSE
>  file that states they are 2.1, but rather just LGPL. Am I missing it?

In the sourcecode files of simple-xml the following header is given:

 * Copyright (C) 2007, Niall Gallagher <niallg at users.sf.net>
 *
 * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
 * License as published by the Free Software Foundation.
 *
 * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
 * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
 * GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
 *
 * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General
 * Public License along with this library; if not, write to the
 * Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330,
 * Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
 */

It does not specify any special version of the LGPL, so it should be licensed 
under the LGPL 2.1.

The LGPL 2.0 is named GNU _Library_ General Public License and the header 
above says GNU _Lesser_ General Public License so it is at least version 2.1.

If it would be version 3.0, it would be explicetely mentioned.

And according to the LGPL 2.1 License Text [1], section 13 one can use "any 
version ever published by the Free Software Foundation":

"13. The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new versions of 
the Lesser General Public License from time to time. Such new versions will be 
similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to address 
new problems or concerns. 
 Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the Library 
specifies a version number of this License which applies to it and "any later 
version", you have the option of following the terms and conditions either of 
that version or of any later version published by the Free Software 
Foundation. If the Library does not specify a license version number, you may 
choose any version ever published by the Free Software Foundation."

I do not know, how to represent this in Debian.

I also contacted the upstream author Niall Gallagher on this, but he just 
said:

"With regards to the license there should be a LICENCE.txt in the root of the 
archive."

But there isn't. And he did not answer to my next E-Mail. I will ask him again 
tomorrow and we will see.

Thanks for your time!

Regards,
Fabian

[1] http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-2.1.html
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