Re: [boost] [pkg-boost-devel] Bug#349209: boost: Boost Graph Library is non-free and undistributable in compiled form

From: Doug Gregor (dgregor_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-02-06 17:19:31

On Feb 5, 2006, at 10:58 AM, Steve M. Robbins wrote:

> Dear Boost Graph Library Developers,
>
> The following is a reply to a bug report from a Debian user
> [http://bugs.debian.org/349209] pointing out deficiencies in the
> library licensing, from Debian's point of view.  We'd like to
> know whether the few remaining files NOT available under the
> Boost Software License may be relicensed.  Thanks.

We're looking into it.

>
> On Sat, Jan 21, 2006 at 04:21:38PM +0100, Francesco Poli wrote:
>
>> According to boost debian/copyright file, the
>> Boost Graph library does not seem to comply with the DFSG.
>
> That file is out of date.
>
> Most of the current boost source files are licensed under the
> Boost Software License [http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt]
> which I believe is OK by DFSG.
>
> I found the exceptions in the HEADER files using
>
>     cd boost/graph
>     find * -type f | xargs grep -L 
> 'http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt'
>
> Of the exceptions these 8 are under the original GRAPH license:
>
> 	adjacency_list_io.hpp

I'll contact the author.

> 	cuthill_mckee_ordering.hpp
> 	detail/sparse_ordering.hpp       BLANKET
> 	king_ordering.hpp

Yes, these can all go under the Boost Software License.

> 	profile.hpp

I'll contact the author.

> 	relax.hpp                        BLANKET

Yes, this can go under the Boost Software License.

> 	sloan_ordering.hpp
> 	wavefront.hpp

I'll contact the authors.

> File simple_point.hpp has no copyright at all.  I presume this is
> an oversight and invite the Boost Graph authors to comment.

Yes, this was an oversight. It's copyright Trustees of Indiana 
University, 2004-2005 under the Boost Software License. (It's fixed in 
Boost CVS).

> There is a small library that is compiled to libbgl-viz.  This library
> has four source files, three of which are under Boost Software
> License.  The exception is libs/graph/src/graphviz_lex.ll, which is
> under the origian graph license.  On the other hand, the listed
> author, Lie-Quan Lee has given blanket permission, so we may apply the
> Boost Software License to it as well.

Yes, this can also go under the Boost Software License; fixed in Boost 
CVS.

>> | Any disputes arising out of this Agreement or LICENSEE'S use of the
>> | software at any time shall be resolved by the courts of the state of
>> | Indiana.  LICENSEE hereby consents to the jurisdiction of the 
>> Indiana
>> | courts and waives the right to challenge the jurisdiction thereof in
>> | any dispute arising out of this Agreement or Licensee's use of the
>> | software.
>>
>> This is a choice of venue, which is considered non-free by many
>> debian-legal regulars (including myself...).
>> People who accept this license may be forced to travel to the state
>> of Indiana, whenever the copyright holder decides to sue them (even
>> for frivolous claims, even if they live on the other side of the
>> ocean). This is a significant restriction on the exercise of the
>> rights granted by the license.
>
> This sounds like a serious problem.

That is rather scary :)

>   I'd hate to have to remove part of
> Boost from Debian.  To the graph authors: is it possible that the 
> remaining
> few files can be relicensed under BSL?

For the files where I've said that I need to contact the author, we're 
dealing with code that was contributed to us several years ago for 
which we have not yet received permission to move to the Boost Software 
License. It may take a couple days for me to track down these authors 
to get their permission.

        Doug