Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 16312
OpenOffice.org zip file does not appear license compliant for people to pass on to others.
Last modified: 2005-03-03 12:29:48 UTC
Hi, I could be completely wrong here as I am not a legal person. However, if I want to copy and pass on the executable for OpenOffice.org it appears the zip file does not comply with the license requirements for this to be done. As best I can understand the following need to be added to the zip file: - The licenses under which OpenOffice.org operates - A link to the source code I feel the OpenOffice.org binary should be fully self contained so that it can be passed on to others without any additional work. If I am wrong about this, it would be appreciated if someone could show me in the documentation that this is not required in for an unmodified executable. If I am correct then everyone passing copies on to others will generally be breaching the license conditions and that is not a good state of affairs. Thanks Kelvin
Have checked all my downloads, and license.html/license.txt appears in all.From my POV this is really a WFM... Will leave this unconfirmed for now, to let others check.
Hi, It is important to realise the existing zip file appears correct from the point of view of a person obtaining the zip file from the website. However if the person then goes to give a copy of the zip file to another person then they must meet the license requirements and it is at this point that it would appear to be inadequate. Firstly as I said there appear two things missing. The license.html and license.txt files are not the required LGPL and SISSL license text files that appear to be necessary for the code to be passed on by me to others. The current files license.html and license.txt seeom only to contain what is demanded by other products for OpenOffice.org to be compliant for including other's code such as the Berkley DB software. This is not I believe what is required to allow me to give people a copy of OpenOffice.org. As I said I could be wrong. But from what I read if I provide a copy of the binary zip file to others, I am obligated to provide others with a link to the source code and copies of possibly LGPL, SISSL as files. So strinctly speaking the zip file appears to contain everything required for me to obtain and use the zip file from the OpenOffice.org website, but not for me to pass it on to others. The second thing is a link to the source code. This is not required for the zip file if I receive it direct from the website. However it does appear to be a requirement that I provide it if I pass a copy of the software on to someone else. As I said, I'm not a legal person so I could be wrong. If I can get confirmation that the zip file is fully self contained and it contains all that is required for me to pass it on to others and meet all license and thus legal obligations, then that is all that I am after. Thanks Kelvin
Hi, I thought I would complete this issue. Based on feedback from Louis Suarez-Potts and Alex Fisher the zip file contains all that is required to allow people to pass on copies of the binary which is contained in the zip file. I am now closing this issue as WorksForMe. Thanks Kelvin
closing old issue.