Re: License question: mod_throttle

[Theo de Raadt <deraadt@cvs.openbsd.org>]

> > > I asked the author and he helpfully pointed out that the next release
> > > of mod_throttle will have the same or a stricter version of the
> > > license here:
> > >
> > > http://www.snert.com/Software/mod_watch/
> > >
> > > Which is rather unattractive.
> > 
> > So let me get this straight: To distribute a package or even mirror the 
> > source code, you have to get a "prior written permission in hardcopy 
> > (letter or fax) from the author". If you do it commercially, you also 
> > have to pay a fee to the author.
> 
> That is incorrect. You are permitted to mirror the original source
> distribution (a distfile) without any written permission, per Section 3.
> 
> Yes, a binary package would require permission.

Sure Sounds non-free.

> > That sounds like some really, really stupid license. Does the author 
> > really want anyone to *use* this module? Have you talked to him about 
> > the numerous problems of this license?
> 
> Is learning how to read a LICENSE file really so difficult? 

The license has been read.  We understand it.  The software is not
freely useable by all parties.

> As for pulling the port, I don't understand the logic behind that at
> all. We have perfectly functioning flags to indicate that binary
> packages should not be included on the CDs or ftp sites. What,
> exactly, is the big deal?

The flags are about to be deleted or at least changed.  The existance
of these flags is extremely dangerous to the future existance of our
project.

> I dislike the idea that OpenBSD is alienating itself still further
> from web application hosters, and that is the end result of making
> stuff like bandwidth quotas, Expat, Apache upgrades, etc. difficult.

Oh give it a break.  Go and buy some software if you want non-free
software; in the meantime, our group here concentrates on only free
software.  If you want slaves (ie. our developers) to work on non-free
stuff, send them some money.  Lacking money, we'll go with things which
allow us to place them on CDs.  Which means they MUST BE FREE.