New license request: NAIF-SPICE [SPDX-Online-Tools]

[attipaci]

1. License Name: SPICE Software License 2. Short identifier: NAIF-SPICE 3. License Author or steward: NASA 4. Comments: The "SPICE Software License" is open-source software license by NASA, specifically for the distribution of the SPICE toolkit. It is based on the Apache 2.0 license, with some exceptions. The exceptions specifically permit the re-packaging of the toolkit, and the distribution of such packages (e.g. as Fedora or Debian packages; see "Toolkit Redistribution" section of the exemption text). However, since there is no existing SPDX license that would cover these exceptions, such Linux packages can only be provided if an appropriate SPDX license can cover the licensing exceptions. I am submitting this application for an appropriate new SPDX license to allow providing Linux packages of the SPICE toolkit.

NASA's aim with the SPICE Software License is specifically to provide open source access to the toolkit, and its source code, so it may be re-packaged, and its components may be used in 3rd party applications. The license seems to meet all SPDX criteria for inclusion. 5. License Request Url: http://tools.spdx.org/app/license_requests/410 6. URL(s): https://nasa-pds.github.io/collaborate/jpl-pds-oss-policy.html, https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/rules.html 7. OSI Status: Unknown 8. Example Projects: https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/toolkit.html, https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2304835

[mattiaverga]

For reference, I've also found a previous related request, see #1934

[richardfontana]

Note that the assertion here that

It is based on the Apache 2.0 license, with some exceptions. The exceptions specifically permit the re-packaging of the toolkit, and the distribution of such packages (e.g. as Fedora or Debian packages; see "Toolkit Redistribution" section of the exemption text).

is possibly fundamentally incorrect and seems to be based in part on an interpretation of some unpublished communication with a representative of the licensor. See some discussion here: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2304835

What does seem to be the case is that the JPL has adopted a general policy of using Apache-2.0 for public source code releases, but the people at NAIF have evidently persuaded the powers that be there to grant them an exemption from the policy and thus avoid the impact of pro-open-source reform efforts within NASA. That's my take on it, anyway.

That's not to say that the NAIF-SPICE terms (whatever they actually are) aren't worthy of being represented with an SPDX identifier.