Details
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Bug
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Resolution: Fixed
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P1: Critical
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6.8.0
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None
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N/A
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80047cb90 (dev), 976f6fd5d (6.8), b7f8e087e (6.7)
Description
During a copyright audit of QQEM 6.6.2 (done in preparation for uploading the software to the Debian and Ubuntu archives), it was discovered that there are two images in QQEM, `tools/qqem/qml/images/background_dark.jpg` and `tools/qqem/qml/images/background_light.jpg`, that contain metadata identifying them as being copyrighted by Rawpixel, LTD. The metadata can be seen by viewing the files in CGit (https://code.qt.io/cgit/qt/qtquickeffectmaker.git/tree/tools/qqem/qml/images/background_dark.jpg?h=6.8 and https://code.qt.io/cgit/qt/qtquickeffectmaker.git/tree/tools/qqem/qml/images/background_light.jpg?h=6.8), and is also visible by using `exiftool` on the images (which is what I did).
After discovering the images' source, I went to Rawpixel and searched their Public Domain database using the image description found in the metadata of background_dark.jpg, "Dark gradient background with copy space vector". I was unable to find any images that appeared similar to this one. However, when searching through Creative Elements with the same search term, I found this image, which appears strikingly similar to the one in QQEM, but significantly brighter: https://www.rawpixel.com/image/8448823/vector-background-texture-aesthetic
According to Rawpixel's business license agreement, it is prohibited to "sell, re-distribute or share our images or copies of our images for others to use." Their personal license agreement has a similar restriction. This is not compatible with the Debian Free Software Guidelines, which require that "the license of a Debian component may not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing programs from several different sources." (There are other DFSG incompatibilities in Rawpixel's licenses, but this is the most notable one.) As such, QQEM cannot be packaged for Debian or Ubuntu without creating replacement images for background_dark.jpg and background_light.jpg. Additionally, it does not appear that the Qt company can legally redistribute these images via CGit or source tarballs, as they are doing currently.