[enfs-devel] Licensing of Sun RPC library

[Hudson, T. B. <Tra...@ce...>]

[ Apologies for the formatting.  Outlook is braindead ]

The Sun RPC library files that we are using have the following license:

* Sun RPC is a product of Sun Microsystems, Inc. and is provided for
* unrestricted use provided that this legend is included on all tape
* media and as a part of the software program in whole or part.  Users
* may copy or modify Sun RPC without charge, but are not authorized
* to license or distribute it to anyone else except as part of a product or
* program developed by the user.

Although the license appears to be internally inconsistent, it sounds to me
as if we do not have the rights to re-license the code in the RPC library,
nor is it compatible with the GPL.  It is not inconsistent because
"unrestricted use" does not address distribution, while the second sentence
addresses redistribution rights.  It does not address GPL style
distribution, in which the code is being licensed as part of a product with
the source code included.

The "tape media" comment is rather quaint.  I suppose tar files, RPM's and
floppies need not carry the copyright notice.

Trammell
-- 
H: hu...@sw...               240 476 1373
W: Tra...@ce...    240 453 3317