Re: [PATCH] gnu: Add Biopython.

[John Darrington <john@darrington.wattle.id.au>]

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On Thu, Apr 16, 2015 at 11:00:30AM +0200, Andreas Enge wrote:
     
     It starts like this:
     "Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
     documentation with or without modifications and for any purpose and
     without fee is hereby granted"
     
     Does the provision "without fee" make it non-free?
     
I don't think it does.

From a native English speaker's perspective, I think it is free.  It 
says "for any purpose".    Ipso facto, "any purpose" embraces for the purpose
of pecuniary gain through charges for distribution.

The important words are: "Permission ... without fee ... is hereby granted."
In other words, the licensor does not demand a fee before granting that permission.
If it had said "Permission ... upon payment of fee ... will be granted". Then that
would have made the thing non-free.

I think the confusion is arising because some people might interpret 
"for any purpose and without fee" to mean: "for any purpose except distribution 
in exchange for a fee ..."

Maybe the licensors should amend the text just to avoid this possible 
misunderstanding, but in the meantime I don't think it is a problem.

(I am not a lawyer.  But I am also not illiterate.)

J'

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