Question on how to handled "GPL with exceptions" in a package review.

Rahul Sundaram sundaram at fedoraproject.org
Mon Apr 16 19:56:36 UTC 2007


Jeff Spaleta wrote:
> Good Morning campers,
> 
> I've been working on the review of pigment and I had a question
> concerning whether I need
> to ask for a legal review of the license. Its GPL with an additional
> exception clause. Now personally, I've no problem with the additional
> clause but I aint no lawyer'n type monkey so take my opinion with a
> grain of salt.  This is the first time I've come across a GPL with
> additional exceptions license as a reviewer so I want to tread
> carefully.
> 
> Do additional exceptions tacked on to the GPL require a legal review
> or is this a best judgement situation?

The rule of thumb when dealing with GPL exceptions is to ask yourself 
this question: Does it add restrictions or does it relax it?

Allowing more than what the GPL license would otherwise do is ok. For 
example, a exception to allow a GPL'ed library to link to OpenSSL. A 
exception that adds restrictions on top is not ok. For example, you may
not use this application in a commercial way.

The GPL exception on this pigment review
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=233597 seem ok to me.

Rahul




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