[X2go-dev] NoMachine's licensing

[Erik Auerswald]

Hi,

On Wed, Feb 02, 2011 at 10:58:25AM -0500, Gerry Reno wrote:
> On 02/02/2011 09:22 AM, brian mullan wrote:
> > So any code anyone's contributed since 2004 to NoMachine's programs
> > (see the above list) just gives NoMachine JOINT copyright with the
> > contributors.
> 
> And what about contributions that were made to NoMachine codebases prior
> to 2004?  NoMachine project was releasing software prior to 2004.

Are there any? Are there any hints that possible contributors did not
allow relicensing by NoMachine? Does anybody care?

> You cannot just pick a point in time after the start of a codebase and
> require contributors give you joint rights only from that point forward.

You have no obligation to accept any contributions. Anyway, this
discussion leads nowhere, I don't like NoMachine stopping GPL releases,
but I don't see any _evidence_ that might inhibit them from doing so.

> It may be that NoMachine has acquired all the rights from all
> contributors ever in their codebase.  It is not easy to do.  Especially
> when many projects start out without formal processes and procedures to
> ensure audit trail and full accounting for all contributions.
>
> So if new NX libs are closed source the question is can NM document that
> they have secured all or joint rights to every contribution in the NX
> codebase from every contributor, including prior to 2004?  Or did NM
> completely rewrite the NX libs (I think this would be doubtful).

The first time I heard about NX it was closed source with a GPL core,
all released by NoMachine. At first glance they primarily used code with
X/MIT/BSD/ISC style licenses.

My point is that we on this list don't know the exact licensing situation
for the NX code. That is enough to just use the GPL code in combined or
derived work. That is not enough to presume any further obligations on
part of NoMachine.

> More to the immediate needs of x2go though is the fact that NX OSS is
> currently unmaintained. 
> 
> And as pointed out, all the stakeholders in NX OSS need to join force to
> provide for the continuance of the NX OSS codebase. 

That would be good indeed.

Erik
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