license query

[Joshua Root]

On 2019-3-7 21:43 , Christopher Jones wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> I am looking to setup some new ports, that will provide in macports
> access to the Intel Math Kernel Library and headers (for use by another
> port later on, PyTorch).
> 
> The license for this is the Intel Simplifed Software license
> 
> https://software.intel.com/en-us/license/intel-simplified-software-license
> 
> Which on a scan through the ports tree I don’t think we current use
> anywhere, unless I missed it ?
> 
> Reading the above, (and based on PyPi’s distribution of it), I believe
> it is fully distributable, so I am wondering what would be the correct
> way to define the license, and allow the macports binary tarballs to be
> distributable ? Currently I have arbitrarily set the license in the ports to
> 
> # https://software.intel.com/en-us/license/intel-simplified-software-license
> license             ISSL
> 
> So I just made up a new license.
> 
> Any suggestions on the right thing to do here ? 
> 
> Also, the PyTorch port that I want to be able to use these will be BSD
> licensed, and I would like to try and make sure this is also
> distributable, so make sure the deps on the MKL ports does not prevent this.

This license is nonfree because it doesn't allow distribution of
modified versions, and because "No reverse engineering, decompilation,
or disassembly of this Software is permitted." We can still have it in
MacPorts, but be very careful not to patch it in any way. The license
option should be set to "Restrictive/Distributable".

The BSD license itself has no problem with being combined with more
restrictive licenses (provided they don't prohibit doing the few things
that the BSD license requires), but the "without modification"
stipulation in the Intel license is potentially problematic. The FSF
maintains that if program A is linked to program B, then A is a
derivative work of B, and a derivative work could be viewed as a
modified version.

I have no idea whether Intel shares the FSF's view on that point, or if
they would care to take action based on it. The effects of Intel's
license on software that uses their library would be something you'd
have to ask a lawyer (possibly Intel's) about.

- Josh