Bug#814276: Non-Free file: src/stdlib/SDL_qsort.c

[stressware2 at ruggedinbox.com]

Package: libsdl2
Version: 2.0.2+dfsg1-6
Severity: serious

The file 'src/stdlib/SDL_qsort.c' in SDL2 seems to disallow
modification.

The Debian copyright file simply mentions the license as:

  You may use it in anything you like; you may make money
  out of it; you may distribute it in object form or as
  part of an executable without including source code;
  you don't have to credit me. (But it would be nice if
  you did.)'.

What it does not mention is the text before that:

  * This code may be reproduced freely provided
  *   - this file is retained unaltered apart from minor
  *     changes for portability and efficiency
  *   - no changes are made to this comment
  *   - any changes that *are* made are clearly flagged
  *   - the _ID string below is altered by inserting, after
  *     the date, the string " altered" followed at your option
  *     by other material. (Exceptions: you may change the name
  *     of the exported routine without changing the ID string.
  *     You may change the values of the macros TRUNC_* and
  *     PIVOT_THRESHOLD without changing the ID string, provided
  *     they remain constants with TRUNC_nonaligned, TRUNC_aligned
  *     and TRUNC_words/WORD_BYTES between 8 and 24, and
  *       PIVOT_THRESHOLD between 32 and 200.)'.

Although the file states 'You may use it in anything you like', it
either contradicts itself, or is simply talking about using the
unmodified file in any program you like. The part before that clearly
says that the file cannot be 'reproduced freely' unless '[the] file is
retained unaltered apart from minor changes for portability and
efficiency'.