[GRASSLIST:1303] GNU - GPL and Cuba

[Lars Bromley]

Hi List,
I am involved in a US-Cuba scientific cooperation program, one aspect of which involves geospatial sorts of technologies. Due to the embargo on Cuba, our counterparts cannot seem to acquire any US-based GIS technologies as they represent a possible security risk. 

Does anyone have any experience with Cuban GIS folks, and if so how did they get their software? Does the GNU-GPL circumvent this possible liability at all? Does acquisition of GRASS from a non-US source avoid liability?  I am ready to recommend that our counterparts simply acquire GRASS via one of the non-US mirror sites, but am not sure if that is a legitimate approach. 

Any thoughts? Any advice? 

Thanks,
Lars Bromley
Technical Specialist
American Association for the Advancement of Science
1200 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
ph: (202)326-6495