LGPL relicense port of rsync

[Per Lundqvist]

2016-01-24 18:53 GMT+01:00 Martin Pool <mbp at sourcefrog.net>:

...
>> You might be right but I am a bit hesitant.
>>
>>
>> http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/58338/when-porting-code-must-i-follow-the-original-license
>>
>> http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/90232/original-author-rights-in-a-licensed-software-project?rq=1
>>
>> http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/86754/is-it-possible-to-rewrite-every-line-of-an-open-source-project-in-a-slightly-dif
>
>
> These are talking about different situations:
>
>  - 'porting' in the sense of making code run on a different platform while
> still having some code in common
>  - line-by-line rewrite or translation
>  - writing a new program using the rsync source as documentation of the
> protocol, as you are doing
>
> In my (not a lawyer) opinion, the last of them does not create a copyright
> derivative, and (separately) I don't object to you doing that on GPL'd work
> that I wrote. I would consider the first two to be a violation.

OK, that distinction does make sense.

> I think you have a couple of cheap options to get some clarity:
>
>  - mail the other key authors listed above explaining what you're doing and
> ask if they object
>  - mail the FSF or SFLC as custodians of the L/GPL

Yes that is a very good idea. I will start by contacting FSF and see
if they can clarify this.

Thanks.

--
Per Lundqvist