GNU bug report logs - #67797
non-free license listed in module/ice-9/psyntax.scm

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Message #14 received at 67797 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Mike Gran <spk121 <at> yahoo.com>
To: "Thompson, David" <dthompson2 <at> worcester.edu>, 
 Maxim Cournoyer <maxim.cournoyer <at> gmail.com>
Cc: "67797 <at> debbugs.gnu.org" <67797 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Subject: Re: bug#67797: non-free license listed in module/ice-9/psyntax.scm
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2023 05:39:37 +0000 (UTC)

On Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 12:51:11 PM PST, Maxim Cournoyer <maxim.cournoyer <at> gmail.com> wrote: 
>> This confirms my hunch that there is no issue with the license.

>That's great, but... why is it not a problem?  :-)

>When we find out, we should add an explanation next to the license text,
>why it's deemed alright.

Maxim,
This is not meant to be plain English, but rather, it is American Legal Nonsense English.

If you changed the text to "may be used for any purpose: lawful or unlawful", then, in USA
contract/copyright law, the contract is unenforceable because it is illegal.  It is not possible
to be party to an unenforceable contract. If the receiver of the software can't be a party
to the contract because it is unenforceable, then effectively
the software can't be open sourced by that copyright statement.

-Michael

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