Re: Licensing question about data for KStars

Akarsh Simha wrote:

> Hi
> 
> In KStars, we've been using unreliable data for what we call 'deep-sky
> objects' (galaxies, star clusters, nebulae etc) because of licensing
> issues. I've been wanting to fix that.
> 
> I wrote a mail to the editor of a popular database of deep-sky objects
> used by several software (many of them under GPL) about using it in
> KStars and re-distributing it under GPL. This was required because the
> documentation says that the "data is released for private use of
> anyone who wishes to use this database."
> 
> I got a response saying: "I have no problem with you using the SAC
> data for the Kstars program.  It was released with the rules that it
> is not sold as a seperate item." There have been other instances where
> the redistribution under GPL has been permitted (See
> http://www.freelists.org/post/sac-board/Permission-Request,5 for
> instance)
> 
> 1. Is this permission sufficient, or is something more required to
>    redistribute the data

it's redistributable, but I don't think it is compatible with kde policy on
licensing: http://techbase.kde.org/Policies/Licensing_Policy

> 2. Is it required that I assign the original author / editor of the
>    original catalog as one of the copyright holders of the
>    GPL-licensed catalog?

Giving proper credit is probably good, regardless.

> 3. I also used the HyperLeda database, which is used primarily for
>    research purposes. They expect an acknowledgement in the following
>    manner:
>    http://leda.univ-lyon1.fr/acknowledge.html
>    However, they do not specify any licensing terms. Would it be
>    appropriate to use their data in KStars?

Ask them for licensing terms.

-- Rex