texmf-texlive/tex/latex/resume/res.cls seems to have incompatible license

[Gavin McCullagh]

Binary package hint: texlive-base

Hi,

I regret to report that it appears texmf-texlive/tex/latex/resume/res.cls is neither DFSG nor GPL (nor by most other definitions) free software.

In particular "provided that the copies are not made or distributed for resale" seems to to contradict those licenses.

I don't know the author, but if you like I'll email him and see would he consider releasing under a compatible license.

Gavin

gavinmc@bambi:/usr/share/texmf-texlive/tex/latex/resume$ head -20 res.cls
% RESUME DOCUMENT STYLE -- Released 23 Nov 1989
% for LaTeX version 2.09
% Copyright (C) 1988,1989 by Michael DeCorte

\typeout{Document Style `res' <26 Sep 89>.}

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% res.sty
%
% \documentstyle{res}
%
% Copyright (c) 1988 by Michael DeCorte
% Permission to copy all or part of this work is granted, provided
% that the copies are not made or distributed for resale, and that
% the copyright notice and this notice are retained.
%
% THIS WORK IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. THE AUTHOR PROVIDES NO
% WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE WORK,
% INCLUDING WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
% FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

[Norbert Preining (preining)]

On Sa, 03 Jan 2009, gavinmc wrote:
> I regret to report that it appears texmf-
> texlive/tex/latex/resume/res.cls is neither DFSG nor GPL (nor by most
> other definitions) free software.

Thanks for the report. This file will be removed in upstream TeX Live
and the next packages in Debian within the next days. That will be in
texlive-extra 2007.dfsg.14-1 (if I count right).

Best wishes

Norbert

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Debian Developer <email address hidden> Debian TeX Group
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[Gavin McCullagh (gmccullagh)]

Is there any sense asking the author to release under a better license. Is there a suitable license (eg one which is common in texlive and suits debian/ubuntu) we could suggest to him?

Gavin

[Gavin McCullagh (gmccullagh)]

Ah. Neither email address seems to have an mx record so I guess we may be out of luck.

There seems to be a reference to him as Michael Decorte (Nunez), on classmates.com, but I've no account on it.

Gavin

[Gavin McCullagh (gmccullagh)]

Hi Norbert,

I registered for an account on classmates and left a message for Michael DeCorte, the original author. He responded today to say:

--------------------------------
From: Michael DeCorte <.....................>
Subject: res.sty
To: Gavin McCullagh <.....................>
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 17:15:27 -0800 (PST)

Gavin,

I am the original author of res.sty from 20 years ago. If it's of value to anyone that's great. However, I no longer have a copy of res.sty and to the best of my knowledge there is no official copy anywhere, I can't exactly publish a copy with an updated license. I have no issues if the license is updated to GPL http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html

Michael DeCorte
--------------------------------

So, it appears we can get it re-licensed. Would GPL be a suitable license for it to go into the upstream TeX tree? If not, can you suggest a more suitable one, and a list to which he can email a new version to get it updated in their tree. Once he publicly releases it, you can update your TeX Live packages with the new version and we won't lose the package.

Gavin

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.