According to Bob Jones in the MUFFIN echo, "the Husky project is
ending up in the "non-free" arena for Debian due to licensing
because they use SMAPI".

Is this correct?

Also, I've had a look at the changes between SQDEV200 (which isn't GPLed)
and the MSGAPI code that is part of the Maximus 3.02 source code release
(which IS GPLed) and they are relatively small.  So presumably someone
could incorporate those changes into SMAPI/XMSGAPI and release the result
under the GPL.  Obviously the GPL wouldn't apply to the public domain code
though.  But I don't think the GPL actually allows you to distribute GPLed
code that's been modified unless the modifications are under the GPL too. 
Which means all the PD code would need to be rewritten.  Or you could just
not bother, and not tell anyone.

On the other hand, I'm told you are free to relicence PD code as you wish,
and that "code that's public domain is never in conflict with any
software license".  So maybe the whole thing is just a storm in a
teacup.

-- mail{at}ozzmosis.com

--- timEd/FreeBSD 1.11.a3