Re: Nonstandard License in PPA -- SoulFu

[Caroline Ford <caroline.ford.work@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 2007-11-10 at 23:07 -0600, Justin Dugger wrote:
> Hello, I have a question about licenses for packages in a PPA.  The
> game SoulFu has a fairly obnoxious license, apparently the attempt of
> the
> original author to create a working community development effort gone insane:
> 
> Disclaimer
>     THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED TO YOU "AS IS", AND AARON BISHOP
> DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. BY
> USING THIS SOFTWARE, YOU AGREE THAT YOU DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK AND
> THAT AARON BISHOP WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL,
> INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES. PERIOD.
> 
> Distribution
>     THIS SOFTWARE MAY ONLY BE DISTRIBUTED IF NO MONEY IS CHARGED FOR
> THE SOFTWARE ITSELF, NO MONEY IS CHARGED FOR THE MEDIA UPON WHICH IT
> IS SUPPLIED, AND NO MONEY IS CHARGED FOR THE SERVICE OF SUPPLYING IT.
> IT MAY NOT BE SOLD, RENTED, OR OTHERWISE USED TO EARN MONEY, EITHER BY
> ITSELF OR AS PART OF A COMPILATION OR BUNDLE -- EXCEPT WITH EXPRESS
> WRITTEN PERMISSION. IF MONEY IS CHANGING HANDS, IT IS A COPYRIGHT
> VIOLATION! ASK FIRST! I WILL USUALLY GIVE PERMISSION TO MAGAZINES...
> 
> Alterations
> 
>     This is the development version of Secret of Ultimate Legendary
> Fantasy: Unleashed, complete with source code. I hereby grant all
> users permission to modify this game and to distribute derivative
> works, provided that the following conditions are met:
> 
>     1. The title screen (WSPLASH), main menu (WMAIN), and "Be Nice"
> window (WMONEY) must remain intact and unchanged.
>     2. The disclaimer and distribution text above must be included and
> abided by.
>     3. This manual must be included.
>     4. The high standard of quality must be maintained. Official-ish
> releases should be voted on by members of the Official-ish forum, and
> the virtue system should be expanded. It must always change for the
> better.
>     5. The NICEWARE system must remain working and enforced - no "work
> arounds" may be made. In order to access all character classes, the
> player must type "I SWEAR I DID SOMETHING NICE" one time per session.
> 
> 
> This license includes significant restrictions on changes to the game,
> and demands that no money be charged for the software itself.  I've
> written an email to the author requesting something saner,
> with no response thus far.  Would such a license be acceptable for a
> PPA hosted by Canonical?
> 
> Justin Dugger
> 
I'd say it's unfree as it's under a non commercial license. It's also
not freely modifiable - I'm guessing WMONEY is a window encouraging
donations? You don't have the right to change the title screen or change
the NICEWARE thing, whatever that is..

Caroline