MrSID, ECW licenses may not be compatible by QGIS distribution

[kyngchaos]

As far as I can tell for these, the distribution of the binary libraries within an application require the application to restrict download from certain countries, at least if distributed from the US. I don't see any such restriction in the QGIS site. This was the reason for my method requiring the user to download those libraries and manually install them for the GDAL format plugins (or maybe I was just being over cautious, I don't know).

This should be investigated and verified, and those libraries removed from the distribution if necessary.

[NathanW2]

Is this in the license file for the ECW SDK?

[kyngchaos]

ECW SDK and MrSID SDK

[nyalldawson]

at least if distributed from the US

Is this actually the case here? No idea how mirrors may effect things, but I believe the QGIS hosting infrastructure is european based. @elpaso @rduivenvoorde ?

This was the reason for my method requiring the user to download those libraries and manually install them for the GDAL format plugins

I'm curious how this approach gets around the issue -- is there something on your server backend blocking the downloads from the restricted regions?

[saberraz]

Another question is, how are we handling Windows packages, which come with those drivers already packaged?

[NathanW2]

They are bundled and would be very bad to remove them. If this is a US trade issue like what gitlab and GitHub have recently have had to do, I am not sure it will affect us as we are not a US company.

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On Tue., 30 Jul. 2019, 8:34 am Sab, ***@***.***> wrote: Another question is, how are we handling Windows packages, which come with those drivers already packaged? — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#15?email_source=notifications&email_token=AAC5FXCXRRZZHW45QOOS273QB5V5VA5CNFSM4IHSG4Y2YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOD3CGMFA#issuecomment-516187668>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAC5FXHXJJWSXSN64V5O6FDQB5V5VANCNFSM4IHSG4YQ> .

[kyngchaos]

I'm curious how this approach gets around the issue -- is there something on your server backend blocking the downloads from the restricted regions?

No, I can't block downloads by region. I only distribute the GDAL plugin binary that's linked to the SDK libraries. It's up to the user to get the SDK libraries, I'm not distributing those.

[nyalldawson]

It's up to the user to get the SDK libraries, I'm not distributing those.

Ah, makes sense!

[jef-n]

Hi Nyall,

On Mon, 29. Jul 2019 at 15:22:45 -0700, Nyall Dawson wrote: > This was the reason for my method requiring the user to download those > libraries and manually install them for the GDAL format plugins I'm curious how this approach gets around the issue -- is there something on your server backend blocking the downloads from the restricted regions?

It also restricts distribution to "any national of these countries". Jürgen

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[nyalldawson]

It also restricts distribution to "any national of these countries".

(my unhelpful reply): what a steaming pile of horse 💩. This restriction is so antiquated and useless in the current era that it's just a laughable joke.

[NathanW2]

I also don't think it applies to us anyway given it has come up in other open projects and the result is 'doesnt affect us'

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On Tue., 30 Jul. 2019, 7:10 pm Nyall Dawson, ***@***.***> wrote: It also restricts distribution to "any national of these countries". (my unhelpful reply): what a steaming pile of horse 💩. This restriction is so antiquated and useless in the current era that it's just a laughable joke. — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#15?email_source=notifications&email_token=AAC5FXBXJRROI3EXRP5P2GLQCAAOXA5CNFSM4IHSG4Y2YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOD3DKL2A#issuecomment-516335080>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAC5FXDYIW47XKKZFJXIIM3QCAAOXANCNFSM4IHSG4YQ> .

[mbernasocchi]

FWIW we are also not distributing ECW and MrSID in QField for that reason

[mewoch]

does providing a build minus MrSID and ECW for those affected leave enough wriggle room?