The spec file lists nc as being under the GPL. It is not. It is freeware. Summary: Reads and writes data across network connections using TCP or UDP. Name: nc Version: 1.10 Release: 22 Source0: ftp://ftp.avian.org/src/hacks/nc110.tgz Source1: http://www.openbsd.org/src/usr.bin/nc/nc.1 Patch0: nc-arm.patch Patch1: nc-1.10-halfclose.patch Patch2: nc-proto.patch Patch3: nc-1.10-timeout.patch Patch4: netcat-1.10-ranges05.patch Patch5: nc-1.10-sigalrm.patch Copyright: GPL Group: Applications/Internet BuildRoot: %{_tmppath}/%{name}-root (From the readme in the sources) Netcat is entirely my own creation, although plenty of other code was used as examples. It is freely given away to the Internet community in the hope that it will be useful, with no restrictions except giving credit where it is due. No GPLs, Berkeley copyrights or any of that nonsense. The author assumes NO responsibility for how anyone uses it. If netcat makes you rich somehow and you're feeling generous, mail me a check. If you are affiliated in any way with Microsoft Network, get a life. Always ski in control. Comments, questions, and patches to hobbit.
You're correct, the original version has no copyright at all. The version we have in fc6/fc5 is modification of the original nc version from OpenBSD and it has a Copyright. I'm addressing only "real" bugs for RHEL4 so I'm closing this as WONTFIX.