Bug#1135657: bmagic: DFSG Issues

[Michael Stehmann]

Hello,

Am 15.06.26 um 15:55 schrieb Adrian Bunk:
> On Mon, May 04, 2026 at 05:58:43AM -0400, Reinhard Tartler wrote:
>> Package: bmagic
>> Version: 7.13.4+dfsg-1
>> Severity: serious
>>
>> Dear Maintainer,
>>
>> I am filing this bug report with severity serious because the current
>> version of bmagic in the archive contains several violations of the
>> Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG) and licensing documentation
>> requirements.
>>
>> 1. Non-Free Attribution Requirement (DFSG 1 & 3)
>> The LICENSE file (and README.md) contains a clause that states:
>> "Proper BitMagic reference on your product/project page is a REQUIREMENT
>> for using the Library."
>> This "requirement" to maintain a specific reference on a project page
>> goes beyond standard attribution and imposes a specific redistribution
>> burden. This is effectively an advertising-style clause that restricts
>> free redistribution and the creation of derived works, making it
>> incompatible with the DFSG.
>> ...
> 
> 4-clause BSD with the advertising clause has always been recognized as
> DFSG-free (and is also listed at [1]):
> 
>    All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software
>    must display the following acknowledgement: This product includes
>    software developed by the <copyright holder>.
> 

It might be free; but does Debian really want to write on all 
"advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software": 
"This product includes software developed by the <copyright holder>"?

Is that really a condition Debian wants to fulfill?

To fulfill a clause that is deprecated since years?

see https://www.debian.org/legal/licenses/

Kind regards
Michael
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