[R-pkg-devel] Adding package with 3rd party library to CRAN: legal question

[Russell Almond]

This is related to my previous technical question, but really is a 
question about CRAN policy.

I'm currently the maintainer of the RNetica package 
(https://github.com/ralmond/RNetica) which provides an R binding for the 
C API of the Netica Bayes net library (https://norsys.com).  The Netica 
library is available in both a "student" and "professional" version, the 
difference being a license code available from Norsys.  The student 
version is sufficiently functional to run the test suite and to be used 
for educational purposes.  Installing the package from github installs 
the student version, which can be converted to a professional version by 
purchasing a license code.

In the past, Norsys has been fine with me distributing binaries which 
included the Netica code (but not the license keys), and I'm sure that 
they would be okay with CRAN distributing student-mode binaries as well. 
  Currently, the source version will download the Netica API kit from 
the Norsys web site and install Netica (still working out one or two 
technical glitches).

What are the policy issues associated with distributing this package 
through CRAN?  My own code is licensed under the Artistic license (which 
is CRAN compatible), but the 3rd party shared library has a different 
license from Netica.  Can I distribute RNetica through CRAN or am I 
stuck with a github-only distribution.

Thanks for your assistance.
	--Russell Almond