Moodle

File included by the CAS module is incompatible with the GPL

Details

  • Type: Bug Bug
  • Status: Closed Closed
  • Priority: Major Major
  • Resolution: Fixed
  • Affects Version/s: 1.8.7, 1.9.3, 2.0
  • Fix Version/s: 1.8.8, 1.9.4, 2.0
  • Component/s: Other
  • Labels:
    None
  • Affected Branches:
    MOODLE_18_STABLE, MOODLE_19_STABLE, MOODLE_20_STABLE
  • Fixed Branches:
    MOODLE_18_STABLE, MOODLE_19_STABLE, MOODLE_20_STABLE

Description

As mentioned on the Debian tracker (http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=496069), Moodle currently includes a copy of domxml-php4-php5.php as part of the phpCAS which is embedded in /usr/share/moodle/auth/cas/CAS/.

That file is licensed under the Creative Commons "Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 France" BY-SA (FR) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/fr/). Unfortunately, this is incompatible with the GPL:

http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/index_html#OtherLicenses

I have asked the author whether if he consider distributing this file also under the terms of the GPL, in which case, we could continue to use it in the CAS module.

Activity

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Francois Marier added a comment -

Here's an update from the upstream author:

"I will study the GNU/LPGL v3 and update to this licence shortly, that
is today or tomorrow, on
http://alexandre.alapetite.net/doc-alex/domxml-php4-php5/

If this licence is not satisfactory for my case, I will fall back to a
licence explicitly compatible with GNU/LGPL such as CeCILL-C
http://www.cecill.info/licences.en.html

My wish is to use a licence ensuring that modifications of this
specific library are published under an Open Source licence, without
forcing the rest of the software using it to be published. It should
also be compatible with the French legislation."

Show
Francois Marier added a comment - Here's an update from the upstream author: "I will study the GNU/LPGL v3 and update to this licence shortly, that is today or tomorrow, on http://alexandre.alapetite.net/doc-alex/domxml-php4-php5/ If this licence is not satisfactory for my case, I will fall back to a licence explicitly compatible with GNU/LGPL such as CeCILL-C http://www.cecill.info/licences.en.html My wish is to use a licence ensuring that modifications of this specific library are published under an Open Source licence, without forcing the rest of the software using it to be published. It should also be compatible with the French legislation."
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Francois Marier added a comment -

The latest version (attached) of that file is now relicensed under the LGPLv3.

Therefore, we can just upgrade to that version in 1.8, 1.9 and 2.0 and everything is fine.

I didn't see a README_moodle.txt so I guess we don't have any customisations?

Francois

Show
Francois Marier added a comment - The latest version (attached) of that file is now relicensed under the LGPLv3. Therefore, we can just upgrade to that version in 1.8, 1.9 and 2.0 and everything is fine. I didn't see a README_moodle.txt so I guess we don't have any customisations? Francois
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Martin Dougiamas added a comment -

Thanks for that excellent work, Francois! +100

And thanks very much to Alexandre for re-licensing! http://alexandre.alapetite.net/doc-alex/domxml-php4-php5/ (Note the versions go backward at some point, we are actually using a smaller-number version of the file now even though it's more recent).

I've replaced the version we have in CVS and done basic tests to make sure the script didn't bomb. I have not tested actual CAS functionality because I don't have the environment.

I'll redirect this to the CAS maintainer to do that.

Show
Martin Dougiamas added a comment - Thanks for that excellent work, Francois! +100 And thanks very much to Alexandre for re-licensing! http://alexandre.alapetite.net/doc-alex/domxml-php4-php5/ (Note the versions go backward at some point, we are actually using a smaller-number version of the file now even though it's more recent). I've replaced the version we have in CVS and done basic tests to make sure the script didn't bomb. I have not tested actual CAS functionality because I don't have the environment. I'll redirect this to the CAS maintainer to do that.
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Martin Dougiamas added a comment -

Jerome, can you test CAS on the latest CVS version and confirm it still works?

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Martin Dougiamas added a comment - Jerome, can you test CAS on the latest CVS version and confirm it still works?

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Dates

  • Created:
    Updated:
    Resolved:
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