[pkg-x2go-devel] Bug#784565: nx-libs-lite: parts are derived from non-free code

[Francesco Poli (wintermute)]

Package: nx-libs-lite
Version: 3.5.0.27-1
Severity: serious
Justification: Policy 2.2.1

Hello and thanks for maintaining this package in Debian!

I noticed that the debian/copyright states:

[...]
| Parts of this software are derived from DXPC project. These copyright
| notices apply to original DXPC code:
| 
|    Redistribution and use in source and binary forms are permitted provided
|    that the above copyright notice and this paragraph are duplicated in all
|    such forms.
| 
|    THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
|    WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
|    MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
| 
|    Copyright (c) 1995,1996 Brian Pane
|    Copyright (c) 1996,1997 Zachary Vonler and Brian Pane
|    Copyright (c) 1999 Kevin Vigor and Brian Pane
|    Copyright (c) 2000,2001 Gian Filippo Pinzari and Brian Pane
[...]

This license lacks the permission to modify the DXPC code.
Hence, the original DXPC code does not appear to comply with the
DFSG. And the nx-libs-lite is in part derived from DXPC code.

This basically means that nx-libs-lite includes parts which are
non-free (as they are derived from non-modifiable code) and
are also possibly legally undistributable (as they are non-modifiable,
but actually modified). The combination with the rest of nx-libs-lite
(which is GPL-licensed) may also be legally undistributable (since
the license with no permission to modify is GPL-incompatible).


If there's anything I misunderstood, please clarify.

Otherwise, please address this issue as soon as possible.
The copyright owners for the original DXPC code should be
contacted and persuaded to re-license under GPL-compatible
terms.

Thanks for your time.
Bye.