Re: RE[2]: xboard : classical chess: graphics assets : donation : preferred/desirable license?

[Tim Mann]

I didn't see your messages until today as I don't check my chess folder often. Thanks for your offer.

My quick summary of the recommendations at https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-recommendations.html (see heading "Other data for programs") is that it is fine to use "GPLv3 or later" as the license for your graphics, as that's the license xboard is using.

Alternatively, if you prefer to use some other license, there are other possible choices, and the page gives more details about that.

On Sun, Feb 14, 2021 at 9:09 PM mayuresh@kathe.in <mayuresh@kathe.in> wrote:

It's now more than 2 days since my first mail regarding this topic to this mailing list and I'm yet to receive a relevant response.

On Friday, February 12, 2021 03:38 PM IST, h.g.muller@hccnet.nl wrote:

> GPL is a license for computer source code. I don't think it is suitable for graphics files.
> Perhaps someone that knows more about licenses in general than me can suggest a good license.
> Op vr., feb. 12, 2021 om 10:57, "mayuresh@kathe.in"  schreef:
> Thanks for the detailed response.
> Can graphics assets be released under the GPL?
> If yes, any advice on how to choose between v2 and v3 would be welcome.
> If no, any advice on a suitable license for free use and redistribution would be welcome.
>
> On Friday, February 12, 2021 02:21 PM IST, h.g.muller@hccnet.nl (mailto:h.g.muller@hccnet.nl) wrote:
>
> The main version of XBoard has been GTK based for many years now. But all versions of XBoard use the same graphics formats. The primary format is SVG, so the images can be used for any board size. XBoard would also be able to use PNG format, but this can be used only for one particular board size without loss of image quality.
> Compatibility of licences is no issue, as the graphics files are not part of the program binary, but loaded as external data. The XBoard licence (GPL) does not put any restrictions as to what data the program would be allowed to process. So the only thing that matters is whether the graphics files can be freely used and redistributed.
> Op vr., feb. 12, 2021 om 07:52, "mayuresh@kathe.in (mailto:mayuresh@kathe.in)"  schreef:
> an associate of mine is considering freeing the graphics assets he'd got developed for one of his commercial chess product.
> if those assets (board + pieces) have to be usable (maybe as default) with xboard, which license is the most compatible for releasing them? Also, which image format should he release them as to allow quick and easy integration with the existing xboard (as opposed to the upcoming gtk+ based)?