Re: Licensing

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008, Rigo Wenning wrote:
> On Thursday 10 January 2008, Ian Hickson wrote:
> > On Thu, 10 Jan 2008, Rigo Wenning wrote:
> > >
> > > Neither a testsuite nor a specification trying to achieve 
> > > interoperability is an open-source project.
> >
> > No, but test suites are imported into open source projects and 
> > embedded into automated test systems as part of open source projects, 
> > and thus need to fulfill the conditions needed for open source 
> > projects. (This also applies to closed-source projects, though it is 
> > not an issue in this instance since they don't have to republish the 
> > tests.)
> 
> I see the issue. BTW, the W3C Software license was recognized as being 
> compatible with the GPL: 
> http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/IPR-FAQ-20000620#GNU

We're talking about the Document license here. If we were talking about 
the software license, different issues arise. [1]

[1] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-css-testsuite/2008Jan/0011.html


> This issue is not easy to resolve as it invokes a conflict of different 
> interests. We'll have to talk to those people and see how we can resolve 
> that.

What interests are at conflict here that were not at conflict in the HTML 
working group?

I am utterly baffled by the W3C's reaction in this matter.


> > > Do you think you can have a FIPS-140 certification that you can 
> > > build yourself and everybody can just alter and run?
> >
> > These are not certification test suites.
> 
> What are the semantics of those test suites? What do they assert 
> socially?

These test suites are designed to verify conformance for exiting the CR 
exit criteria, presumably like most, if not all, W3C test suites. They are 
also used by browser vendors as part of larger test suites to catch 
regressions and development bugs.


> > > So Bert is right, lets wait for the requests and think about new 
> > > solutions if the old ones don't work anymore.
> >
> > We have three requests now, one from Anne (Opera), one from me 
> > (Google), and one from David (Mozilla). How many more would you like?
> 
> I do not consider three requests overwhelming.

Wow.


> > On Thu, 10 Jan 2008, Rigo Wenning wrote:
> > > By doing so, you're not compliant to any of the licenses you
> > > mention anymore. So Google would have to refuse your tests too.
> >
> > This is incorrect, and shows a somewhat fundamental misunderstanding 
> > of copyright and license law.
> 
> ...says the lawyer

I actually consulted with my team's IP lawyer, expert in open source 
software licenses, and he assures me that you are indeed incorrect in your 
assertion here. In fact his exact words were "this guy doesn't even make 
any sense". I can only assume you are misunderstanding the situation.

-- 
Ian Hickson               U+1047E                )\._.,--....,'``.    fL
http://ln.hixie.ch/       U+263A                /,   _.. \   _\  ;`._ ,.
Things that are impossible just take longer.   `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.'

Received on Thursday, 10 January 2008 23:09:24 UTC