Subject: Redistributing Esri FileGDB run-time DLL
From: Matt Wilkie
Date: 21/01/2013 9:57 AM
To: support@esri.ca

Dear ESRI Canada Tech Supoprt,
(client id and version details attached)

I would like to get a clear answer on what is or isn't allowed with regards to the File Geodatabase API and redistribution of DLLs. The text of the license states, in part:

[...]
4.2 Uses Not Permitted
[...]
b. Except as provided herein, Licensee shall not redistribute Software, Data, or Web Services to third parties, in whole or in part, including, but not limited to, extensions, components, or DLLs.
[...]
The scope of use for the Software, Data, Web Services, and Documentation identified below is described in the applicable footnotes identified in parentheses.

Software

Esri File Geodatabase API (47)

47. Licensee may develop and distribute software or web applications that use the Esri File Geodatabase API to Licensee's end users.
The Footnote 47 might be intended to allow redistributions of the DLL, but it doesn't clearly state so.

At various places in the user forums and elsewhere on the internet Esri staffers are seen clearly stating redistribution is free and that including the runtime DLLs are allowed, probably. I'd like to erase that "probably" with firm yes or no.

So, can, for example, the GDAL ESRI File Geodabase (FileGDB) driver be packaged and redistributed with the run-time file-gdb dynamic link library (FileGDBAPI.dll) to end users, by means of something like the OSGeo4W gdal-filegdb driver?

Basically I'd like to be able to give that to someone and they can read our data right away, and not have to add instructions similar to "go to Esri.com, create an Esri Global Account, sign in to the resource centre, go to the api download page, agree to license, download, unpackage, find 'FileGDBAPI.dll', and put it in PATH, ...etc."


thank you,
-- 
matt wilkie
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Geomatics Analyst
Information Management and Technology
Yukon Department of Environment
10 Burns Road * Whitehorse, Yukon * Y1A 4Y9
867-667-8133 Tel * 867-393-7003 Fax
http://environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/geomatics/
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