[Debian-med-packaging] Comments regarding clustalw_2.1+lgpl-1_amd64.changes

[Steffen Möller]

Hello,

On 02/07/2011 03:58 AM, Mike O'Connor wrote:
> Comment: I have received the following message from Des Higgins. -- Charles Plessy
>    "We are happy to give the Debian team permission to modify
>    ClustalW 2 and ClustalX 2 code and redistribute the binaries as long as
>    those modifications do not alter the algorithmic core, i.e. only affect
>    installation routines, bug fixes etc. Please include the original
>    LICENSE file into your package."
>
> The two things that concern me are that it seem to intend to limit modification
> rights to not allow altering the algorithmic core, and that the permission to
> modify is given to debian only, which fails DFSG #8.  However, it is confusing
> to me that this statment is listed in the debian/* portion of copyright file
> and not the * portion of the copyright file, however, this person is not listed
> as a copyright holder for this portion.
>   

ClustalW was for years in non-free and we could move it back there,
of course. Des Higgins kindly replied to the group that contacted
him about the interpretation of the original license. That is how
this should be read.

The algorithmic identity with upstream sources is of uttermost
importance for clustalw. We would not be allowed to change
the algorithm while keeping the name, alone for scientific principles
that we are bound to, license or not.

In that sense, the license is better than a mere GPL since it protects
the user.  We would nag upstream again about a reformulation of that
text. But from how I sense it, the overall atmosphere of this copyright
notice is Free, indeed.

Charles?

Many greetings

Steffen