sane-project-website/license.html

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<title>SANE - License</title>
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<meta name="author" content="Henning Meier-Geinitz">
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<h1>SANE - License</h1>
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<hr>
<p>
The information on this page is copied from the <a
href="LICENSE">LICENSE</a> file that is included in the sane-backends
distribution. It's only changed to use HTML and some links were added.
</p>
<p>
This files attempts to clarify the licensing situation for the SANE
distribution. In case of doubt, the copyright information contained in
each file overrides what is said here.
</p>
<p>
SANE consists of three parts each of which has its own licensing
terms:
</p>
<blockquote>
<dl>
<dt>
The frontend programs.
</dt>
<dd>
These programs are generally protected by the GNU General Public
License. (See file <a href="COPYING">COPYING</a>.)
</dd>
<dt>
The backend libraries.
</dt>
<dd>
Most backend libraries are protected by the GNU General Public License (see file <a
href="COPYING">COPYING</a>), but as an exception, it is permissible to link against such a
library without affecting the licensing status of the program that uses the libraries.
For details, see the copyright notice at the head of the backend files (e.g., <a
href="dll.c">backend/dll.c</a>).<br>
Note that not all of the backends apply the exception and that some have additional
licensing constraints. E.g., the DC210 backend uses JPG code that is licensed as
described in <a href="README.djpeg">README.djpeg</a>.
</dd>
<dt>
The SANE API and network protocol as put forth in the standard document.
</dt>
<dd>
The <a href="html/">standard</a> is considered to be in the public domain. Anyone is
free to implement SANE interface conforming applications or libraries in any way he or she
sees fit.
</dd>
</dl>
</blockquote>
<p>
Frequently Asked Questions about the SANE licensing:
</p>
<blockquote>
<dl>
<dt>
Why don't you use the GNU LPGL ?
</dt>
<dd>
The reason SANE isn't licensed under the GNU LGPL is very
simple: the GNU LGPL didn't exist at the time SANE was first
released. So, the SANE Exception was added to the GNU GPL.
</dd>
<dt>
Why don't you relicense SANE, now that the GNU LGPL is
available ?
</dt>
<dd>
To relicense the various pieces of code composing SANE, each
and every copyright holder needs to agree with the
relicensing. Unfortunately, some of the (original) backend
authors cannot be contacted any longer, for various reasons;
not to mention each and every contributor who
sent in a patch. This effectively makes it impossible for
the SANE Project to relicense SANE.
</dd>
</dl>
</blockquote>
<hr>
<p>
<a href="./">SANE homepage</a><br>
<a href="imprint.html">Contact</a>
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<p>
<font size="-1">$Date$ $Author$</font>
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