Re: [ccp4bb] The CCP4 license is ambiguous

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CCP4bb <-- 2007 <-- July 2007 <-- 06 July 2007

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Subject: Re: Solving structure of protein-protein complexes using MR
From: "Manfred S {- dot -} Weiss" msweiss {- at -} EMBL-HAMBURG {- dot -} DE
Date: 2007-07-06

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Subject: Re: The CCP4 license is ambiguous
From: "Herbert J {- dot -} Bernstein" yaya {- at -} BERNSTEIN-PLUS-SONS {- dot -} COM
Date: 2007-07-06

Dear Colleagues,

May I suggest that, at this point, we all need a clarification
of the licensing for the libraries in CCP4 (as distinct from
the licensing for the programs). The community as a whole would
benefit from an unambiguous release of the current libraries (as
opposed to the next to current libraries) under the LGPL (as
opposed to the GPL or the full-blown CCP4 license). I may be
missing something, but I cannot see who would be hurt by such
an action. I think we all can see the benefit.

Regards,
Herbert

At 12:04 PM +1000 7/6/07, Tim Grune wrote:
>To me it seems that clause 2.1.1 of the CCP4 academic license says that one
>can distribute work derived from or using the CCP4 libraries provided that it
>complies with clause 2.1.2
>The last sentence in clause 2.1.2 says it itself becomes void if the derived
>work is distributed under the GPL or LGPL. Doesn't that mean that the CCP4
>academic license does NOT impose any restrictions at all for work distributed
>under the LGPL or GPL, because anything that might restrict it is void?
>
>Tim
>
>
>On Wednesday 04 July 2007 18:49, Kevin Cowtan wrote:
>> I was speaking imprecisely. I will try again.
>>
>> You cannot create a derived work containing both CCP4 6.* licensed code
>> and GPL'd code, and distribute the resulting program, since the GPL
>> demands that the derived work be distributed without additional
>> restirctions and the CCP4 6.* license imposes additional restrictions on
>> redistribution - in particular (but not limited to) an indemnity clause.
>>
>> Ethan A Merritt wrote:
>> > On Tuesday 03 July 2007 06:55, Kevin Cowtan wrote:
>> >> I'm afraid there is no ambiguity. You can't use the CCP4 version 6.*
>> >> libraries in GPL software.
>> >
>> > This sounds strange to me.
>> > The question is usually raised in the other direction - whether GPL
>> > libraries can be used by a non-GPL program [*].
>> >
>> > Here you are saying that a GPL program cannot use non-GPL libraries.
>> > I believe this is false. To take an obvious example, consider GPL
>> > software running on Windows and calling into the system libraries.
>> > Do you think that Cygwin has been in violation of the GPL all these
>> > years?
>> >
>> > Or perhaps I misunderstand. Are you saying that the current CCP4
>> > license does not permit combination with non-CCP4 code?
>
>--
>Tim Grune
>Australian Synchrotron
>800 Blackburn Road
>Clayton, VIC 3168
>Australia
>
>Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:Untitled 15 ( / ) (0016B5AD)

--
=====================================================
Herbert J. Bernstein, Professor of Computer Science
Dowling College, Kramer Science Center, KSC 121
Idle Hour Blvd, Oakdale, NY, 11769

+1-631-244-3035
yaya@dowling.edu
=====================================================

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CCP4bb <-- 2007 <-- July 2007 <-- 06 July 2007

Previous message:
Subject: Re: Solving structure of protein-protein complexes using MR
From: "Manfred S {- dot -} Weiss" msweiss {- at -} EMBL-HAMBURG {- dot -} DE
Date: 2007-07-06

Next message:
Subject: Re: CHOOCH problem
From: William Scott wgscott {- at -} CHEMISTRY {- dot -} UCSC {- dot -} EDU
Date: 2007-07-06