From 1262b13f4db9502c36579b7dd740d8002e0baac9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jeremy Allison Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2020 10:53:27 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] Add VFS-License-clarification.txt as discussed on the Team list. MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Update WHATSNEW.txt with a copy for the next release. Signed-off-by: Jeremy Allison Reviewed-by: Ralph Boehme Autobuild-User(master): Ralph Böhme Autobuild-Date(master): Thu Oct 22 15:34:54 UTC 2020 on sn-devel-184 --- VFS-License-clarification.txt | 28 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WHATSNEW.txt | 32 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 60 insertions(+) create mode 100644 VFS-License-clarification.txt diff --git a/VFS-License-clarification.txt b/VFS-License-clarification.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..6b67381cc20 --- /dev/null +++ b/VFS-License-clarification.txt @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ +A clarification of the GNU GPL License boundary within the Samba +Virtual File System (VFS) layer. + +Samba is licensed under the GNU GPL. All code committed to the Samba +project or creating a derived work must be either licensed under the +GNU GPL or a compatible license. + +Samba has several plug-in interfaces where external code may be called +from Samba GNU GPL licensed code. The most important of these is the +Samba VFS layer. + +Samba VFS modules are intimately connected by header files and API +definitions to the part of the Samba code that provides file services, +and as such, code that implements a plug-in Samba VFS module must be +licensed under the GNU GPL or a compatible license. + +However, Samba VFS modules may themselves call third-party external +libraries that are not part of the Samba project and are externally +developed and maintained. + +As long as these third-party external libraries do not use any of the +Samba internal structure, APIs or interface definitions created by the +Samba project that are licensed under the GNU GPL then it is the view +of the Samba Team that such third-party external libraries called from +Samba VFS modules are not part of the Samba code and cannot be +considered a derived work of Samba for the purposes of GNU GPL +licensing. Thus such libraries are not required to be under the GNU +GPL or a GNU GPL compatible license. diff --git a/WHATSNEW.txt b/WHATSNEW.txt index 983dc4761fc..ffcf634030d 100644 --- a/WHATSNEW.txt +++ b/WHATSNEW.txt @@ -16,6 +16,38 @@ UPGRADING NEW FEATURES/CHANGES ==================== +Here is a copy of a clarification note added to the Samba code +in the file: VFS-License-clarification.txt. +-------------------------------------------------------------- + +A clarification of the GNU GPL License boundary within the Samba +Virtual File System (VFS) layer. + +Samba is licensed under the GNU GPL. All code committed to the Samba +project or creating a derived work must be either licensed under the +GNU GPL or a compatible license. + +Samba has several plug-in interfaces where external code may be called +from Samba GNU GPL licensed code. The most important of these is the +Samba VFS layer. + +Samba VFS modules are intimately connected by header files and API +definitions to the part of the Samba code that provides file services, +and as such, code that implements a plug-in Samba VFS module must be +licensed under the GNU GPL or a compatible license. + +However, Samba VFS modules may themselves call third-party external +libraries that are not part of the Samba project and are externally +developed and maintained. + +As long as these third-party external libraries do not use any of the +Samba internal structure, APIs or interface definitions created by the +Samba project that are licensed under the GNU GPL then it is the view +of the Samba Team that such third-party external libraries called from +Samba VFS modules are not part of the Samba code and cannot be +considered a derived work of Samba for the purposes of GNU GPL +licensing. Thus such libraries are not required to be under the GNU +GPL or a GNU GPL compatible license. Client Group Policy ------------------- -- 2.47.3