This is the Debian Linux prepackaged version of floatbg, which slowly modifies the color of the X root window. This package was put together by Joey Hess , from sources downloaded from: http://sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/comp.sources.x/volume5/floatbg/ The only documentation of floatbg's status with regard to copyright is in the README file, which states: Floatbg is free and yours! I would like to hear about changes people made on it. I take this to mean that floatbg is in the public domain. I have attempted to contact the author, but haven't had any success so far. Also, some of the code has this copyright: /* 16bpp and 32bpp support added by Dave Holland * Code taken from xsetroot by Mark Lillibridge * Copyright (c) 1987, X Consortium */ Which means it comes under the standard BSD copyright.