[Kolab-devel] z-push: problematic license

[Sascha Wilde]

Hi Bernhard,
hi everyone in the Kolab community,

in the past few months and weeks z-push for Kolab[1] turned out to be an
interesting alternative to the currently immature sync-ml support of the
server.  Actually many of those who gave it a try seem quite excited
about it!  :)

That's why I just wanted to install a test setup of z-push support on
demo.kolab.org.  And even more: I was planing to evaluate z-push support
for integration in Kolab Server HEAD...

Being quite careful about license issues I first had a look at the
LICENSE file of the original z-push source and immediately stumbled
across the following introducing paragraph:

  NOTE: According to sec. 8 of the GNU General Public License (GPL), 
  Version 2, the distribution of the Program in or to the 
  United States of America is excluded from the scope of this license. 
  The Program is licensed under GPL Version 2 only.

While its true, that this limitation does perfectly coincide with
section eight, IMNSHO it would be a unbearable burden for Kolab Server.

This is not to say I'm all again using z-push with Kolab Server -- I'm
not, it is a possibly great extension for everybody outside the US.

BUT: 
- I'd suggest mentioning this limitation on the z-push wiki page.
- I advice against any incorporation in the official Kolab Server CVS or
  packaging as long as the current z-push license pertains.
- I would suggest to contact z-push upstream and ask about the reasons
  for this license limitation.[2]
- I'm totally unsure about the legal implications of adding this code to
  a world wide accessible service like demo.kolab.org.  My feeling says
  it would be ok, but INAL and so I will not do it for now.

Comments?

cheers
sascha

ps: fwiw: the license information in the kolab specific archive
    backend_0_2.zip is defective to: 
    - the source headers reference an non existing LICENSE file.
    - only one of the two source files contains copyright information
      other than the original copyright of Zarafa Deutschland GmbH.
    It would be good if this could be fixed for the next version.

[1]  http://wiki.kolab.org/index.php/Z_push
[2]  of cause the idea would be to evaluate if a removal of this
     limiting clause would be possible some way or the other
-- 
Sascha Wilde                                          OpenPGP key: 4BB86568
http://www.intevation.de/~wilde/                  http://www.intevation.de/
Intevation GmbH, Neuer Graben 17, 49074 Osnabrück; AG Osnabrück, HR B 18998
Geschäftsführer:   Frank Koormann,  Bernhard Reiter,  Dr. Jan-Oliver Wagner
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