openssl

[Theo de Raadt <deraadt_(_at_)_cvs_(_dot_)_openbsd_(_dot_)_org>]

some of you asked us what that ECC donation from Sun to OpenSSL means.

so what does it mean?

it means that OpenSSL is becoming a non-free software project, because
the code from Sun contains licenses which invoke patent litigation;
the licence on the new code basically builds a contract that says "if
you use this code, you cannot sue Sun".

In such a way, by means of the slippery slope, a free software project
becomes not as free, and eventually, less and less free.

Before anyone speaks up about and says "that restriction does not
affect me".  It does indirectly affect you.  It means that some other
vendor that uses this code, and subsequently ends up having a spat
with Sun, ends up wasting money on legal efforts, and our entire
society pays for that.  My take on it, is that this is the way the
legal industry ensures itself future work.

On the other hand, here in OpenBSD land we will continue to strive to
make our software more and more free.  We've been squishing odd
license terms which contain non-free restrictions throughout the
source tree for about 2 years now.

once again, i think it is time to fork OpenSSL.  It's obviously run by
a bunch of people who don't think through the legal implications of
their actions.  they should NOT have accepted that code without it
being 100% free.

This donation is not free code.  Shame on you Sun, and double shame on
you OpenSSL.