Debian Bug report logs - #251885
ITP: cgal -- C++ library for computational geometry

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Message #5 received at submit@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de>

To: Debian Bug Tracking System <submit@bugs.debian.org>

Subject: ITP: cgal -- C++ library for computational geometry

Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 16:45:36 +0200

Package: wnpp
Severity: wishlist

* Package name    : cgal
  Version         : 3.0.1
  Upstream Author : CGAL Developers <info@cgal.org>
* URL             : http://www.cgal.org/
* License         : partly LGPL, partly QPL (see below)
  Description     : C++ library for computational geometry

 CGAL (Computational Geometry Algorithms Library) makes the most important
 of the solutions and methods developed in computational geometry available
 to users in industry and academia in a C++ library. The goal is to provide
 easy access to useful, reliable geometric algorithms.
 .
 The CGAL library contains:
 - the Kernel with geometric primitives such as points, vectors, lines,
   predicates for testing things such as relative positions of points, and
   operations such as intersections and distance calculation.
 - the Basic Library which is a collection of standard data structures and
   geometric algorithms, such as convex hull in 2D/3D, (Delaunay)
   triangulation in 2D/3D, planar map, polyhedron, smallest enclosing circle,
   and multidimensional query structures.
 - the Support Library which offers interfaces to other packages, e.g., for
   visualisation, and I/O, and other support facilities.
 .
 Homepage: http://www.cgal.org/



License:
The library consists of three modules. The lower layers (Kernel and the
Support library) are licensed under LGPL, the upper layer (Basic Library) is
licensed under QPL. Code under LGPL and code under QPL is combined in one
library.

I've CC'ed debian-legal and I would like to know whether both licenses are
compatible.

Regards,
  Joachim
  
-- System Information:
Debian Release: 3.0
Architecture: i386
Kernel: Linux enterprise-e 2.4.26-jr87-enterprise-e #1 Fri Apr 30 19:58:04 CEST 2004 i686
Locale: LANG=C, LC_CTYPE=C

Message #10 received at 251885@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Josh Triplett <josh.trip@verizon.net>

To: 251885@bugs.debian.org

Cc: debian-legal@lists.debian.org

Subject: Re: Bug#251885: ITP: cgal -- C++ library for computational geometry

Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 09:56:36 -0700

Joachim Reichel wrote:
> License:
> The library consists of three modules. The lower layers (Kernel and the
> Support library) are licensed under LGPL, the upper layer (Basic Library) is
> licensed under QPL. Code under LGPL and code under QPL is combined in one
> library.
> 
> I've CC'ed debian-legal and I would like to know whether both licenses are
> compatible.

If the two licenses only applied to different libraries that linked to
each other, they would be compatible, because the scope of the LGPL
deliberately stops at the library boundary.  However, the LGPL requires
that all code which directly incorporates LGPLed code be LGPLed.
From the LGPL, version 2.1:
>   The precise terms and conditions for copying, distribution and
> modification follow.  Pay close attention to the difference between a
> "work based on the library" and a "work that uses the library".  The
> former contains code derived from the library, whereas the latter must
> be combined with the library in order to run.
[...]
>   The "Library", below, refers to any such software library or work
> which has been distributed under these terms.  A "work based on the
> Library" means either the Library or any derivative work under
> copyright law: that is to say, a work containing the Library or a
> portion of it, either verbatim or with modifications and/or translated
> straightforwardly into another language.  (Hereinafter, translation is
> included without limitation in the term "modification".)
[...]
>   2. You may modify your copy or copies of the Library or any portion
> of it, thus forming a work based on the Library, and copy and
> distribute such modifications or work under the terms of Section 1
> above, provided that you also meet all of these conditions:
> 
>     a) The modified work must itself be a software library.
> 
>     b) You must cause the files modified to carry prominent notices
>     stating that you changed the files and the date of any change.
> 
>     c) You must cause the whole of the work to be licensed at no
>     charge to all third parties under the terms of this License.
[...]

So any "work based on the library" must be licensed under the LGPL.
Since the QPL is not compatible with the LGPL, the entire work is
non-distributable.

The other issue here is that the QPL is not a Free Software license at
all.  See the thread starting at
<http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2004/04/msg00233.html> for
details.  The QPL requires that all changes are sent to the original
author upon request, and that all license disputes are settled in
Amsterdam City Court by the laws of the Netherlands.  Both of these
restrictions are non-DFSG-free.

I would suggest asking the authors to dual-license their library under
the QPL and the GPL, like Trolltech did with Qt.  In addition to solving
the freeness and compatibility problems, this would also makes the
library GPL-compatible, which allows the huge number of GPLed programs
to link with the library.

(Incidentally, the libcwd package which raised the issue of the QPL
seems to have been uploaded to main even after that discussion concluded
that the license was non-free.)

- Josh Triplett

Message #15 received at 251885@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de>

To: 251885@bugs.debian.org

Cc: debian-legal@lists.debian.org

Subject: Re: Bug#251885: ITP: cgal -- C++ library for computational geometry

Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2004 17:15:38 +0200

Hi,

> If the two licenses only applied to different libraries that linked to
> each other, they would be compatible, because the scope of the LGPL
> deliberately stops at the library boundary.  However, the LGPL requires
> that all code which directly incorporates LGPLed code be LGPLed.
> [...]
> So any "work based on the library" must be licensed under the LGPL.
> Since the QPL is not compatible with the LGPL, the entire work is
> non-distributable.

So what are the options for upstream?

a) Relicense the code in a way that the work is redistributable, if 
possible DFSG-free.

b) Split the library in (at least) two libraries, one (or more) for the 
LGPL code and one (or more) for the QPL code. (By "splitting", I mean 
creating two (or more) static/dynmaic libraries, not splitting the 
package itself.)

c) What about clause 7 of the LGPL:

>   7. You may place library facilities that are a work based on the
> Library side-by-side in a single library together with other library
> facilities not covered by this License, and distribute such a combined
> library, provided that the separate distribution of the work based on
> the Library and of the other library facilities is otherwise
> permitted, and provided that you do these two things:
>
>     a) Accompany the combined library with a copy of the same work
>     based on the Library, uncombined with any other library
>     facilities.  This must be distributed under the terms of the
>     Sections above.
>
>     b) Give prominent notice with the combined library of the fact
>     that part of it is a work based on the Library, and explaining
>     where to find the accompanying uncombined form of the same work.

For clarification, as I understand it:
"Library" = LGPL-part of the code
"library" = the dynamic/static library (including QPL code)

Would this be another option? Is there a piece of software that actually 
uses this clause?

d) What about an exception with respect to clause 2c) of the LGPL? 
Something similar like the GPL-waiver for libssl? This would also be an 
option, right?

Regards,
  Joachim

Message #20 received at 251885@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Josh Triplett <josh.trip@verizon.net>

To: 251885@bugs.debian.org

Cc: debian-legal@lists.debian.org

Subject: Re: Bug#251885: ITP: cgal -- C++ library for computational geometry

Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2004 10:48:27 -0700

Joachim Reichel wrote:
>> If the two licenses only applied to different libraries that linked to
>> each other, they would be compatible, because the scope of the LGPL
>> deliberately stops at the library boundary.  However, the LGPL requires
>> that all code which directly incorporates LGPLed code be LGPLed.
>> [...]
>> So any "work based on the library" must be licensed under the LGPL.
>> Since the QPL is not compatible with the LGPL, the entire work is
>> non-distributable.
> 
> So what are the options for upstream?
> 
> a) Relicense the code in a way that the work is redistributable, if
> possible DFSG-free.

That would work.  Note that if upstream likes the QPL, they would not
need to give it up completely; they could choose to dual-license the
work under the LGPL and the QPL, or under the GPL and the QPL, or under
any other Free license and the QPL.  As long as one of the license
options is a Free Software license.

> b) Split the library in (at least) two libraries, one (or more) for the
> LGPL code and one (or more) for the QPL code. (By "splitting", I mean
> creating two (or more) static/dynmaic libraries, not splitting the
> package itself.)

That would work, but the resulting package would go into non-free, since
it uses the QPL.

> c) What about clause 7 of the LGPL:
> 
>>   7. You may place library facilities that are a work based on the
>> Library side-by-side in a single library together with other library
>> facilities not covered by this License, and distribute such a combined
>> library, provided that the separate distribution of the work based on
>> the Library and of the other library facilities is otherwise
>> permitted, and provided that you do these two things:
>>
>>     a) Accompany the combined library with a copy of the same work
>>     based on the Library, uncombined with any other library
>>     facilities.  This must be distributed under the terms of the
>>     Sections above.

I think this would mean "accompany in the same package", so this is
basically the same as the previous option, except that you could also
provide a combined library.  Again, the resulting package would go into
non-free.

>>     b) Give prominent notice with the combined library of the fact
>>     that part of it is a work based on the Library, and explaining
>>     where to find the accompanying uncombined form of the same work.
> 
> For clarification, as I understand it:
> "Library" = LGPL-part of the code
> "library" = the dynamic/static library (including QPL code)
> 
> Would this be another option? Is there a piece of software that actually
> uses this clause?
>
> d) What about an exception with respect to clause 2c) of the LGPL?
> Something similar like the GPL-waiver for libssl? This would also be an
> option, right?

Assuming the authors hold the copyright to the entire work (meaning that
they didn't incorporate any other LGPLed code), that would work.  See
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLIncompatibleLibs for details
on the exception, and modify it to work with the LGPL instead of the
GPL.  Again, this option would only let the package go into non-free.

- Josh Triplett

Message #25 received at 251885@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de>

To: 251885@bugs.debian.org

Subject: Re: Bug#251885: ITP: cgal -- C++ library for computational geometry

Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 19:32:35 +0100

Recently, upstream release version 3.1 of CGAL that should fix the 
licenses issues. I will look into the package in the next weeks.

Regard,
  Joachim

Message #28 received at 251885-submitter@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Jörg Sommer <joerg@alea.gnuu.de>

To: 251885-submitter@bugs.debian.org

Subject: cgal: some hints

Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 19:54:52 +0100

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Hi,

I've needed CGAL some weeks ago and I build it under Debian. I like to
give you some hints about things I found out:

I've needed the following dependency packages:
libboost-graph-dev
libboost-dev
libmpfr-dev
libgmp3-dev
libqt3-compat-headers
libqt3-mt-dev

I've patched install_cgal to make a warning disapear:
--- /tmp/CGAL-3.1/install_cgal  2004-12-20 18:06:41.000000000 +0100
+++ install_cgal        2005-01-18 22:56:14.902786000 +0100
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@
 # if this also fails, leave architecture blank
 guess_os()
 {
-    _tmp=`${_uname} -p | ${_sed} 's/_/-/g' 2>/dev/null`
+    _tmp=`${_uname} -p | ${_sed} 's/_/-/g'` 2>/dev/null
     if [ -z "${_tmp}" -o "${_tmp}" = 'unknown' -o "`${_uname}`" = "Linux" ]; then
        _tmp=`${_uname} -m | ${_sed} 's/_/-/g' 2>/dev/null`
     fi

This is for configuring:
./install_cgal -gmp -gmpxx -qt -qt_mt --QT_INCL_DIR /usr/include/qt3/ --QT_MOC moc -ni g++

This is for build:
./install --build-all

Then I set the makefile in all examples:
printf '/^include $(CGAL_MAKEFILE)/i\nCGAL_MAKEFILE=/home/joerg/Tmp/CGAL-3.1/make/makefile_ppc_Linux-2.6.9laptop_g++-3.3.5\n.\nw\nq' |ed -s examples/Polyhedron/makefile

Hope this infos help you anyway.

Regards, Jörg.

-- 
Alle reden von sexueller Belästigung am Arbeitsplatz.. Wenn das nicht
bald losgeht, kündige ICH!

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Message #33 received at 251885@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Toni Timonen <toni.timonen@iki.fi>

To: 251885@bugs.debian.org, Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de>

Subject: Re: Bug#251885: ITP: cgal -- C++ library for computational geometry

Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 00:18:28 +0200

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Hi,

How does upstream release version 3.1 of CGAL, actually fixes these
issues? I don't see any changes in the license since lgpl/qpl dual
licensing.

-- 
Toni Timonen
NP-Ratkaisut Oy
Teknillinen Korkeakoulu/Teknillinen Fysiikka
040-5111863,GPG 0x7984A4FD, toni.timonen@iki.fi
ICQ #45732842 irc://irc.npr.fi/#perunamaa

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Message #38 received at 251885@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de>

To: Toni Timonen <toni.timonen@iki.fi>

Cc: 251885@bugs.debian.org

Subject: Re: Bug#251885: ITP: cgal -- C++ library for computational geometry

Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2006 20:04:40 +0100

Hi Toni,

> How does upstream release version 3.1 of CGAL, actually fixes these
> issues?

The license of some files was changed such that all files in the Kernel
and Support Library are licensed under LGPL, the files in the Basic
Library are licensed under QPL. In particlar, all *.C files that end up
in libCGAL.so are licensed under LGPL.

> I don't see any changes in the license since lgpl/qpl dual
> licensing.

Previously, LGPL and QPL licenses were mixed for files in the Kernel and
Support Library. This has been changed. BTW, there is no dual licensing,
each file is either under LGPL or QPL.

Unfortunately, no all license problems were resolved with the 3.1
release. Contrary to the statement in the top-level LICENSE file, there
are many files without any copyright notice (and there is no "default"
license clause).

1) Source files in include/CGAL/ and src/. No big deal, the appropriate
copyright headers "just" need to be added.

2) Many, many files in demo/ and examples/ (source as well as images,
data, ...)

3) The license situation for the documentation is unclear. Currently,
the documentation is not part of the tarball, but there are plans to
include the source for the documentation. [Part 3) is a minor problem;
if 1) and 2) are solved, one could also remove the documentation from
the Debian tarball and point users to the PDF on the CGAL website.]

I'm in contact with the CGAL developers. I hope that these license
issues are fixed in 3.2 which is scheduled for late spring.


Regards,
  Joachim

Message #43 received at 251885@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Toni Timonen <ttimonen@users.sourceforge.net>

To: Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de>

Cc: 251885@bugs.debian.org

Subject: Re: Bug#251885: ITP: cgal -- C++ library for computational geometry

Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 23:42:28 +0200

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

On Tue, Feb 07, 2006 at 08:04:40PM +0100, Joachim Reichel wrote:

> > How does upstream release version 3.1 of CGAL, actually fixes these
> > issues?
> 
> The license of some files was changed such that all files in the Kernel
> and Support Library are licensed under LGPL, the files in the Basic
> Library are licensed under QPL. In particlar, all *.C files that end up
> in libCGAL.so are licensed under LGPL.

ok. I got a different impression at first about the libCGAL.so.

After doing QPL-cleanup:
$ rm `grep -lr LICENSE.QPL .`

Build do fails. There seems to be some debug headers that the core
uses. 

Fortunately it is rather easy to fix (either fixing the license of the
debug headers or the use of the debug header with an attached patch).


-- 
Toni Timonen "toni dot timonen at iki dot fi"
NP Solutions Ltd
Helsinki University of Technology
Department of Engineering Physics and Mathematics

[cgal-lgpl-patch.diff (text/plain, attachment)]

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Message #48 received at 251885@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de>

To: Toni Timonen <ttimonen@users.sourceforge.net>

Cc: 251885@bugs.debian.org

Subject: Re: Bug#251885: ITP: cgal -- C++ library for computational geometry

Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2006 21:13:35 +0100

> After doing QPL-cleanup:
> $ rm `grep -lr LICENSE.QPL .`
> 
> Build do fails. There seems to be some debug headers that the core
> uses. 

Thanks for pointing out.

Regards,
  Joachim

Message #55 received at 251885@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de>

To: 251885@bugs.debian.org

Subject: Re: Bug#251885: ITP: cgal -- C++ library for computational geometry

Date: Sun, 21 May 2006 21:39:35 +0200

CGAL 3.2 is going to be released in a few days. I've been in contact
with the upstream developers to resolve the license issues.

1) Anything that goes into libCGAL.a and libCGALQt.a is licensed under
LGPL. There are no QPL'd files involved in the build of those libraries.

2) The examples as well as some demos and other files are available
under an MIT-like license (previously no license at all).

3) Third-party software contained in the CGAL tarball is clearly
identfied as such in the top-level LICENSE file (and Debian's copyright
file).

4) There is no license for the documentation (upstream could not agree
on a license yet). Therefore, the documentation has been removed from
the Debian tarball. Fortunately, the documentation is separately
available from www.cgal.org.

I plan to package the software and to look for a sponsor as soon as the
final tarballs are available.

Message #60 received at 251885-close@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de>

To: 251885-close@bugs.debian.org

Subject: Bug#251885: fixed in cgal 3.2-1

Date: Wed, 05 Jul 2006 04:55:25 -0700

Source: cgal
Source-Version: 3.2-1

We believe that the bug you reported is fixed in the latest version of
cgal, which is due to be installed in the Debian FTP archive:

cgal_3.2-1.diff.gz
  to pool/non-free/c/cgal/cgal_3.2-1.diff.gz
cgal_3.2-1.dsc
  to pool/non-free/c/cgal/cgal_3.2-1.dsc
cgal_3.2.orig.tar.gz
  to pool/non-free/c/cgal/cgal_3.2.orig.tar.gz
libcgal-demo_3.2-1_all.deb
  to pool/non-free/c/cgal/libcgal-demo_3.2-1_all.deb
libcgal-dev_3.2-1_i386.deb
  to pool/non-free/c/cgal/libcgal-dev_3.2-1_i386.deb
libcgal1_3.2-1_i386.deb
  to pool/non-free/c/cgal/libcgal1_3.2-1_i386.deb



A summary of the changes between this version and the previous one is
attached.

Thank you for reporting the bug, which will now be closed.  If you
have further comments please address them to 251885@bugs.debian.org,
and the maintainer will reopen the bug report if appropriate.

Debian distribution maintenance software
pp.
Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de> (supplier of updated cgal package)

(This message was generated automatically at their request; if you
believe that there is a problem with it please contact the archive
administrators by mailing ftpmaster@debian.org)


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Format: 1.7
Date: Mon, 29 May 2006 20:24:27 +0200
Source: cgal
Binary: libcgal-demo libcgal-dev libcgal1
Architecture: source i386 all
Version: 3.2-1
Distribution: unstable
Urgency: low
Maintainer: Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de>
Changed-By: Joachim Reichel <joachim.reichel@gmx.de>
Description: 
 libcgal-demo - C++ library for computational geometry (demos)
 libcgal-dev - C++ library for computational geometry (development files)
 libcgal1   - C++ library for computational geometry
Closes: 251885
Changes: 
 cgal (3.2-1) unstable; urgency=low
 .
   * New upstream release.
   * First upload to Debian archive. (Closes: #251885)
Files: 
 e248c749cfc0d9e42bc51483a349b6e8 742 non-free/libs optional cgal_3.2-1.dsc
 c99729050909199f70e4e68a7b36e162 6248223 non-free/libs optional cgal_3.2.orig.tar.gz
 639d35426120ed0489f14c594450963a 10269 non-free/libs optional cgal_3.2-1.diff.gz
 e4ef6508e2aa57dcc784266e076bfcce 3262600 non-free/devel optional libcgal-demo_3.2-1_all.deb
 5b40368d7c367a31a8021439b39c18c7 93756 non-free/libs optional libcgal1_3.2-1_i386.deb
 42f6bf9d2287c301f10cec39784c7f5f 2864262 non-free/libdevel optional libcgal-dev_3.2-1_i386.deb

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