Re: How to properly handle contradicting licenses in a single file (aclocal.m4)
Daniel Hakimi <[email protected]> Wed, 3 Jun 2026 08:24:29 -0400
| Newsgroups | gmane.linux.debian.devel.legal |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CALH5QQPmfe4W59m8u2YADJ8YtdXUmKDUHvfwbd_F-YZp6rckdw@mail.gmail.com> |
--0000000000000ac43b06535883bc Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" This generally shouldn't come up that often, and in the tricky cases, you can always check with us. There are several charts about license compatibility online, but I generally wouldn't recommend any of them for legal advice, more just a starting point for your curiosity. The simplified way to look at it is: the first license is very permissive, you can do almost whatever you want with that code. The third license says "you can use this under the terms of the GPLv2 or later." 2 or later includes 3 or later. The second license is 3 or later. That's the most restrictive, the others allow you to use those terms instead, it's fine. There are some trickier issues -- the Apache license is permissive but its patent terms create minor compatibility issues with some GPL-family licenses--but again, this is a rare issue you usually won't need to worry about. Regards, Daniel J. Hakimi B.S. Philosophy, RPI 2012 B.S. Computer Science, RPI 2012 J.D. Cardozo Law 2015 On Wed, Jun 3, 2026, 08:15 Marc Haber <[email protected]> wrote: > On Wed, Jun 03, 2026 at 01:50:29PM +0200, Santiago Vila wrote: > >In your example: > > > >permissive + GPL 2 or later + GPL 3 or later = GPL 3 or later > > Do we have documented which licenses include others? Or do I need to > have a doctorate in international copyright law to be a Debian > Developer? > > Greetings > Marc > > -- > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Marc Haber | "I don't trust Computers. They | Mailadresse im Header > Leimen, Germany | lose things." Winona Ryder | Fon: *49 6224 1600402 > Nordisch by Nature | How to make an American Quilt | Fax: *49 6224 1600421 > > --0000000000000ac43b06535883bc Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"auto"><div dir=3D"auto">This generally shouldn't come up th= at often, and in the tricky cases, you can always check with us.</div><div = dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div>There are several charts about license compatib= ility online, but I generally wouldn't recommend any of them for legal = advice, more just a starting point for your curiosity.</div><div dir=3D"aut= o"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">The simplified way to look at it is: the fir= st license is very permissive, you can do almost whatever you want with tha= t code. The third license says "you can use this under the terms of th= e GPLv2 or later." 2 or later includes 3 or later. The second license = is 3 or later. That's the most restrictive, the others allow you to use= those terms instead, it's fine.</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div = dir=3D"auto">There are some trickier issues -- the Apache license is permis= sive but its patent terms create minor compatibility issues with some GPL-f= amily licenses--but again, this is a rare issue you usually won't need = to worry about.</div><div><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">Regards,</div><div da= ta-smartmail=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div dir=3D"ltr"><di= v><div><br></div><div>Daniel J. Hakimi</div><div>B.S. Philosophy, RPI 2012<= /div><div>B.S. Computer Science, RPI 2012</div><div>J.D. Cardozo Law 2015</= div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail= _quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Wed, Jun 3, 2026= , 08:15 Marc Haber <<a href=3D"mailto:mh%[email protected]">mh= [email protected]</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gma= il_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-lef= t:1ex">On Wed, Jun 03, 2026 at 01:50:29PM +0200, Santiago Vila wrote:<br> >In your example:<br> ><br> >permissive=C2=A0 +=C2=A0 GPL 2 or later=C2=A0 +=C2=A0 GPL 3 or later=C2= =A0 =3D=C2=A0 GPL 3 or later<br> <br> Do we have documented which licenses include others? Or do I need to <br> have a doctorate in international copyright law to be a Debian <br> Developer?<br> <br> Greetings<br> Marc<br> <br> -- <br> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= --<br> Marc Haber=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0| "I don't trust Compu= ters. They | Mailadresse im Header<br> Leimen, Germany=C2=A0 =C2=A0 |=C2=A0 lose things."=C2=A0 =C2=A0 Winona= Ryder | Fon: *49 6224 1600402<br> Nordisch by Nature |=C2=A0 How to make an American Quilt | Fax: *49 6224 16= 00421<br> <br> </blockquote></div> --0000000000000ac43b06535883bc--