From owner-freebsd-ports@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Dec 13 09:08:34 2007 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-ports@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5CE8E16A419 for ; Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:08:34 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from linimon@lonesome.com) Received: from mail.soaustin.net (lefty.soaustin.net [66.135.55.46]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4C21513C4F2 for ; Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:08:34 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from linimon@lonesome.com) Received: by mail.soaustin.net (Postfix, from userid 502) id 96DF08C108; Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:08:33 -0600 (CST) Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:08:33 -0600 To: Tuomo Valkonen Message-ID: <20071213090833.GA15789@soaustin.net> References: <20071212213200.D576216A469@hub.freebsd.org> <200712121701.57460.mi+mill@aldan.algebra.com> <20071212183542.f9bf5e55.wmoran@potentialtech.com> <200712121930.46708.mi+mill@aldan.algebra.com> <20071213021217.GA3535@soaustin.net> <20071213080139.GA14110@soaustin.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.13 (2006-08-11) From: linimon@lonesome.com (Mark Linimon) Cc: freebsd-ports@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Ion3 removal (Re: Ion3 license violation) X-BeenThere: freebsd-ports@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Porting software to FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:08:34 -0000 On Thu, Dec 13, 2007 at 08:30:06AM +0000, Tuomo Valkonen wrote: > The copyright holder reserves the right to refine the definition of > significant changes on a per-case basis. In other words, a moving target -- which implies, to me, that to be legally in the clear, that we would first have to vet every possible change or modification, including patches. This would merely add to _your_ email/support burden, which theoretically is what you are trying to minimize by your license terms. This seems circular to me. You may think the quoted text represent reasonable criteria. But in the case of implied threat of legal action, in my opinion, it's not worth anyone's time to try to iterate over every possibility to find out to make sure they -- and others, on their behalf -- aren't somehow liable. The risk is simply too high. There are other window managers that don't have this restriction, and thus no associated legal risk. I suggest people investigate those instead. Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, but two semester of US business and contract law taught me one thing: if there is any doubt as to whether something will create legal liability, it is absolutely incumbent on oneself to avoid it. mcl