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Nmap Public Source License Version 0.92 is not acceptable for use in Fedora (fedoraproject.org)
2 points by circularfoyers on Jan 10, 2021 | hide | past | favorite | 5 comments



Odd question on license etiquette.

Suppose I have a software package I maintain. I've released a few versions under license X. I decide to switch to License Y for all versions. Say a problematic set of users I'm revoking a licesnse from.

Why should my versioning scheme create artificial constraints on my license? Why should someone be able to "just go back a version"?

Not that I'm a big fan of that type of thing, but it is an interesting legal question.


The copies you've already shared under license X are still licensed under license X even if you quit sharing further copies under license X and switch to license Y.


Looks like this effects nmap verisons >= 7.90 according to this bug report https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1914445.


Why should the nmap developers change their license for IBM's convenience, since Fedora is a Red Hat product and Red Hat is now part of IBM? One might suggest that IBM needs nmap more than nmap needs IBM.


This is not purely an "nmap vs Fedora" thing. Many distros follow similar rules.




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