sbin/md5 license problem

From: Ben Mesander (ben_at_timing.com)
Date: 06/21/05

  • Next message: Steve Kargl: "Re: sbin/md5 license problem" 
    Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 13:48:06 -0600 (MDT)
To: freebsd-arch@freebsd.org, clamav-milter@der-keiler.de, version@der-keiler.de, 0.84e@der-keiler.de, on@der-keiler.de, Daffy.timing.com@der-keiler.de

    All,

      I have been researching the license found on sbin/md5/md5.c . This
    file is the command-line wrapper for functionality found in libmd.

    >From the source code:

    /*
     * Copyright (C) 1990-2, RSA Data Security, Inc. Created 1990. All
     * rights reserved.
     *
     * RSA Data Security, Inc. makes no representations concerning either
     * the merchantability of this software or the suitability of this
     * software for any particular purpose. It is provided "as is"
     * without express or implied warranty of any kind.
     *
     * These notices must be retained in any copies of any part of this
     * documentation and/or software.
     */

    This license does not seem to allow for redistribution or derivative
    works. I would think this would be a problem for FreeBSD.

    The CVS log for the initial commit to the FreeBSD vendor branch (can
    be viewed via:
    http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/src/sbin/md5/md5.c ) says:

    "Incorproate version of md5 placed into public domain by RSA."

    But the license text in this commit is identical to the above, and
    is clearly not public domain.

    It appears that the OpenBSD project at one point completely re-wrote
    the wrapper so as to have a BSD license (and make other improvements):

    http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/bin/md5/md5.c.diff?r1=1.9&r2=1.10

    I have not yet located where NetBSD hid their md5 source on their
    website.

    Regards,
    Ben
    _______________________________________________
    freebsd-arch@freebsd.org mailing list
    http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-arch
    To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-arch-unsubscribe@freebsd.org"

  • Next message: Steve Kargl: "Re: sbin/md5 license problem"