< Previous by Date Date Index Next by Date >
< Previous in Thread Thread Index Next in Thread >

Re: [reSIProcate] vocal licence is not gpl compatible


On February 9, 2005 11:33 am, Anatoly Yakovenko wrote:
> I don't know if anyone has bugged you about this yet, but the VOCAL
> licence is not gpl compatible due to the 4th clause in that licence.
>
> * 4. Products derived from this software may not be called "VOCAL", nor
>  *    may "VOCAL" appear in their name, without prior written
>  *    permission of Vovida Networks, Inc.
>
> You dont actually need to have that clause in the licence if Vovida
> Networks owns the trademark VOCAL.  If you guys really like the VOCAL
> licence is there any chance to duel licencing the library under a more
> GPL happy licence?


I hope this doesn't sound like I'm an ungrateful sob but...

I'm also considering using resiprocate in a GPLd app and would like to know if 
this clause can be modified or removed.  Looking through the archives, this 
issue has come up more than once and at one point it appeared a switch to the 
common 3 clause BSDL was considered but never happened.  How come?

I think it's obvious given the liberal license of resiprocate that the authors 
have nothing against using it with GPL software.  Heck, even the repository 
itself contains source (unlicensed) that looks like it was intended to use 
resiprocate with gaim, a GPL program.  Whether or not the current license is 
GPL compatable, clause 4 does create unneeded uncertainty.  From reading 
various threads in the archives I don't get the impression this was intended 
but I'm not sure if it is possible to change now due to individual copywrites 
etc.

On a similar but minor note, what's the situation with the source in the 
SipIMP-Qt directory?  All the files there have the vovida license but use the 
QT libs.  I don't think this is allowed by either the QT/QPL or QT/GPL.


Regards,
~Scott