Sobre la licencia de componentes FIBplus

[jorosmtz]

Buen día muchachos, volviendo al tema que se me hace muy interesante....

Entonces si FibPlus se derivó de código libre, con la licencia correspondiente, los componentes técnicamente son libres?

[[rretamar]]

Si los componentes son libres, alguien puede subir los fuentes (que la empresa no proporciona) a las redes P2P (o a este mismo foro) y sería perfectamente legal.

Y hasta se podría hacer un "fork" con esas fuentes, y sin las limitaciones antes mencionadas.

[Casimiro Noteví]

Empezado por rretamar

Si los componentes son libres, alguien puede subir los fuentes (que la empresa no proporciona) a las redes P2P (o a este mismo foro) y sería perfectamente legal.

Creo recordar que son dos "units" las que no entregan con el código fuente, las dos principales , pero de todas formas, cuando pagas sí te lo entregan completo con todas las fuentes. Al menos antes lo hacían, yo tengo una versión un poco antigua y viene con todos los fuentes, no sé qué harán ahora.

[guillotmarc]

Pues la verdad es que yo no sé verlo. ¿ Alguien tiene su license.txt ?. En el código fuente de los .pas dice que leamos el license.txt para ver la información completa de la licencia.

Sin poder leer esa licencia no podemos saber a que atenernos. Puesto que si la licencia original es del tipo GPL, entonces todo trabajo derivado, por más modificaciones y ampliaciones que hayan hecho, tiene que ser forzosamente también GPL en todos sus módulos (no pueden esconder ni siquiera esas dos Units), y por tanto pueden cobrar por el empaquetado, servicio, etc. ..., pero seguiría siendo libre para quienes no quieran ese "servicio" de Devrace.

En cambio si la licencia original es del tipo MPL, tienen derecho a cerrar todo el código cuando quieran y solo tiene la obligación a informar de que es un trabajo derivado del de los autores originales.

¿ Alguien puede acceder a la license.txt de las Fibplus e informarnos de cual es exactamente la licencia que utilizan ?, si es posible sería bastante útil que la copiarais aquí.

Saludos.

[Casimiro Noteví]

La licencia la he sacado de esta web de los componentes.
Aquí va el texto:

GENERAL SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT


CAUTION: THE COPYING, MODIFICATION, TRANSLATION OR DISTRIBUTION OF
THE OBJECT CODE, PROGRAM, SOFTWARE OR SOURCE CODE IMPLIES
ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS OF THIS GENERAL SOFTWARE PROGRAM LICENSE
AGREEMENT. YOU SHOULD READ CAREFULLY THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND
CONDITIONS BEFORE YOU COPY, MODIFY, TRANSLATE OR DISTRIBUTE THE
OBJECT CODE, PROGRAM, SOFTWARE OR SOURCE CODE.

1.0 DEFINITIONS

1.1 Licensee - The person who has the privilege to copy,
modify, translate or distribute the object code, program, software
and source code, subject to the terms and conditions of this
General Software License Agreement.

1.2 Object Code - The version of a computer program in
machine language, and therefore, ready to be executed by the
computer.

1.3 Program - A sequence of instructions for executions by a
computer.

1.4 Software - The computer program plus program
documentation, if applicable.

1.5 Source Code - The version of a computer program in
assembly language or high-level language, and therefore, not ready
to be executed by the computer.

1.6 Work - All forms of tangible or intangible property,
based whole, in part or derived from the object code, program,
software or source code.

1.7 You - The person who has the privilege to copy, modify,
translate or distribute the object code, program, software and
source code, subject to the terms and conditions of this General
Software License Agreement.


2.0 LICENSE

2.1 The copyright holder hereby extends a license to you to
use its copyrighted object code, program, software and source code,
subject to the terms and conditions of this General Software
License Agreement.

2.2 This license is applicable to the object code, program,
software and source code distributed under the terms of this
General Software License Agreement, any work containing the object
code, program, software or source code distributed under the terms
of this General Software License Agreement, any modification of the
object code, program, software or source code distributed under the
terms of this General Software License Agreement, any translation
of the object code, program, software or source code distributed
under the terms of this General Software License Agreement and any
work containing a modification or translation of the object code,
program, software or source code distributed pursuant to the terms
and conditions of this General Software License Agreement.

2.3 You may copy, modify, translate and distribute the object
code, program, software or source code distributed under the terms
of this General Software License Agreement, subject to the terms
and conditions of this General Software License Agreement.

2.4 If you copy, modify, translate or distribute the object
code, program, software or source code distributed under the terms
of this General Software License Agreement, you must publish and
make known in a clear and conspicuous manner on each copy,
modification, translation or distribution of the object code,
program, software or source code that the copy, modification,
translation or distribution of the object code, program, software
or source code is subject to the terms and conditions of this
General Software License Agreement and provide a copy of this
General Software License Agreement with each copy, modification,
translation or distribution of the object code, program, software
or source code.

2.5 If you derive, publish or distribute any work that is
based whole or in part on the object code, program, software or
source code distributed under the terms of this General Software
License Agreement, or any modification or translation thereof, you
must publish and make known in a clear and conspicuous manner on
each such work that the work is subject to the terms and conditions
of this General Software License Agreement and provide a copy of
this General Software License Agreement with each work.

2.6 If you copy, modify, translate or distribute the object
code, program, software or source code distributed under the terms
and conditions of this General Software License Agreement, you must
provide clear and conspicuous notice that you have copied,
modified, translated or distributed the object code, program,
software or source code distributed under the terms of this General
Software License Agreement, and indicate the date of each such
copy, modification, translation or distribution.

2.7 If you copy, modify, translate or distribute the object
code, program, software or source code distributed under the terms
of this General Software License Agreement, or publish or
distribute any work that is derived, in whole or in part, from any
copy, modification, translation or distribution of the object code,
program, software or source code distributed under the terms of
this General Software License Agreement, you cannot impose any
further obligations or restrictions on any third person or entity
other than what is contained in this General Software License
Agreement.

3.0 NO WARRANTY

3.1 THE OBJECT CODE, PROGRAM, SOFTWARE AND SOURCE CODE ARE
PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT ANY WARRANT OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE. THE ENTIRE
RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE OBJECT CODE, PROGRAM,
SOFTWARE AND SOURCE CODE IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE OBJECT CODE,
PROGRAM, SOFTWARE AND SOURCE CODE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE
ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

4.0 LIMITATION OF DAMAGES

4.1 IN NO EVENT WILL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON
OR ENTITY BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST
PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS, COMPENSATORY, GENERAL, INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO
USE THE OBJECT CODE, PROGRAM, SOFTWARE AND SOURCE CODE, EVEN IF THE
COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF
THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER
PARTY.

5.0 MISCELLANEOUS

5.1 The article and paragraph headings appearing in this
General Software License Agreement have been asserted for the
purpose of convenience and ready reference. They do not purport to,
and shall not be deemed to define, limit, or extend the scope or
intent of the articles and paragraphs to which they pertain.

5.2 This General Software License Agreement embodies the
entire agreement respecting its subject matter. There are no
promises, terms, conditions or obligations other than those
expressly set forth herein. Unless otherwise expressly set forth
herein, this General Software License Agreement supersedes all
previous communications, representations, agreements, either verbal
or written, warranties, promises, covenants or undertakings.

5.3 This General Software License Agreement shall not be
modified, altered, amended or supplemented, except in writing
signed by all parties hereto.

5.4 This General Software License Agreement shall be governed
by the laws of the State of New Jersey.

[Casimiro Noteví]

Creo recordar que hace años, originalmente, era GPL, pero desde hace algunos años, "desapareció" el fichero de la licencia, curiosamente desde que FIBplus dejó de entregar los fuentes de esos ficheros que faltan [conspiranoic](¿algún acuerdo entre ellos?)[/conspiranoic].
Ahora la licencia es esa que he puesto antes, pero no viene junto al zip con los demás ficheros, cosa que tampoco es "normal".

[Casimiro Noteví]

Y esta es la licencia de fibplus en el 2001

----------------------------------
LICENSING INFORMATION
----------------------------------
The FIBPlus Trustware License is based on the Trustware License of CPS -
Computer Programming Solutions of Mesa Arizona USA.

FIBPlus is based on FIBComponents by Gregory Deatz ([email protected]).
The author of FIBPlus is Sergey Buzadzhy ([email protected]).

----------------------------------
FIBPlus is a trustware product
----------------------------------

FIBPlus is distributed in sources and we have no opportunity to control
completely how the library is used. It means that the use of the library mainly
is based on our trust to the FIBPlus users. But we permit generous registration
of various licenses which regulate the rights of the FIBPlus users.

----------------------------------
Evaluation License
----------------------------------

If you have an evaluation version then these files and any of their contents should be
redistributed only together in their original form.

Modifications must be approved by the Devrace company. The evaluation version may be
freely distributed without our permission but it can not be used for commercial purpose
(that is for getting profit).

We want to encourage the distribution of the evaluation version as much as we can.

----------------------------------
Registered License
----------------------------------

Registration of a purchased license is valid only for the developer in whose name the
original registration was made or, in a case where ownership was transferred, the
developer to whom it was transferred. Site licenses may also be negotiated at substantial
savings to cover departments or small organizations.

If there are other developers in your organization who will use the source or components
please ensure that each individual has a license properly registered to his or her name.

You can not use FIBPlus as a base for products which may be considered to compete with
FIBPlus in some capacity. Please contact the Devrace Company if you have any
questions regarding this.

By purchasing commercial license the developer gets a right for commercial use of FIBPlus,
its new versions and changes realized during one year after registration. That is all new
versions and changes realized during one year after registration automatically become
registered. The commercial use of the registered copy is limited by the terms of this
license and can last for an unlimited period. The developer also gets special discounts
for prolonging the term of the license. Please contact the Devrace Company if you have
any questions regarding this.

----------------------------------
Free Licensing
----------------------------------

We permit generous registration of various free licenses. The concept is that all who use
FIBPlus for commercial purposes, including as employees of a company that engages in
developing products or services for in-house or commercial use, who do not in some way
contribute to the FIBPlus product, shall be required to purchase licensing for commercial
use. All others may inquire about being granted a free license.

We may permit a commercial license to be registered free of charge, until the project turns
out to be profitable, at which time the license would be purchased after the fact. If you
can't make a profit using FIBPlus then we don't feel you should have to pay for it.

There is no charge for access to these components and their sources for those who will not
be profiting financially by their use or for those who are contributing to it. For example,
this may include but is not limited to:
* People wanting to extend their skills in their free time.
* Students or instructors wanting to use them for educational curriculum.
* Non-profit organizations.
* Religious organizations.
* Open source projects that are not geared towards returning financial profits to their
developers, either directly or indirectly.
* Individuals or organizations contributing support in the various public forums, bug
cases and fixes, enhancements, new components or controls, sample applications,
tutorials, "How To ..." articles, marketing materials for promoting FIBPlus, etc.

----------------------------------
Disclaimer
----------------------------------
These tools are distributed AS IS for use at your own risk. No damages as a direct or
indirect result of using this product can be claimed or litigated against the provider.

2001, Devrace Company
http://www.devrace.com/

[Casimiro Noteví]

Empezado por jorosmtz

Buen día muchachos, volviendo al tema que se me hace muy interesante....
Entonces si FibPlus se derivó de código libre, con la licencia correspondiente, los componentes técnicamente son libres?

Empezado por rretamar

Si los componentes son libres, alguien puede subir los fuentes (que la empresa no proporciona) a las redes P2P (o a este mismo foro) y sería perfectamente legal.
Y hasta se podría hacer un "fork" con esas fuentes, y sin las limitaciones antes mencionadas.

Pues sí, yo entiendo que sí, se puede.

FreeIB, por lo que he estado investigando, usa una licencia libre un poco peculiar, no es una "conocida" como la GPL, MPL, BSD, etc. Sin embargo, entre otras cosas dice:
"You may copy, modify, translate and distribute the object code, program, software or source code distributed under the terms of this License...", que traducido es más o menos: "Usted puede copiar, modificar, traducir y distribuir el objeto código, programa, software o código fuente distribuido bajo los términos de este acuerdo de Licencia...".
Creo que con eso deja claro que es libre.

Además añade (traducción de google):
"En cualquier caso, FreeIBComponents le viene gratis, y usted puede vender sus productos derivados sin preocuparse de la compensación de mí."

O sea, que es libre, y puedes hacer lo que quieras con él.

Y los de FIBplus, por lo que he podido entender, están usando una licencia "Trustware", (creo que algo así como "licencia de confianza"), que aunque no he encontrado ninguna explicación clara de qué significa exactamente, interpreto que más o menos quiere decir que: "úsalo y si le sacas provecho... págame".

Así que si proviene de una licencia libre, si yo lo compro, puedo copiarlo, modificarlo, regalarlo, etc. cumpliendo las 4 reglas (libertades) del software libre:

• La libertad de ejecutar el programa, para cualquier propósito (libertad 0).
• La libertad de estudiar cómo trabaja el programa, y cambiarlo para que haga lo que usted quiera (libertad 1). El acceso al código fuente es una condición necesaria para ello.
• La libertad de redistribuir copias para que pueda ayudar al prójimo (libertad 2).
• La libertad de distribuir copias de sus versiones modificadas a terceros (la 3ª libertad). Si lo hace, puede dar a toda la comunidad una oportunidad de beneficiarse de sus cambios. El acceso al código fuente es una condición necesaria para ello.

Es algo parecido a lo que hace SuSe Linux, que te venden (muy barato) un paquete muy bien presentado con los discos (dvd) para instalar, incluyendo unos estupendos libros en español, asistencia gratuita, etc. y después tú puedes copiarlo, regalarlo, modificarlo, etc.

Además, he recordado que por si fuese poco, que también tenemos el ejemplo de FIBL (FreeIB para Lazarus), que es también libre y hereda de FreeIB.

Resumiendo, creo que técnicamente y legalmente FIBplus tiene que ser libre, si no lo fuesen estarían incumpliendo la licencia libre del que proceden.

Y, por supuesto, libre no quiere decir gratis