a template for the CWI permission notice (Python 1.5.x) and similar licenses

Wed Nov 6 04:45:39 UTC 2002

I would like to suggest that a license template like the one below be put
forward for approval by the OSI board.

This is not really intended for new software.  Nevertheless it's pragmatic
to approve it since many OSD-compliant licenses follow this template.
Examples include Scintilla/SciTE, Lucent AWK, OGDI, Python 1.5.x, and
derivatives.

This is not a license that we would recommend for new software - for that,
AFL will do a better job.  (Heck, MIT would do almost the same job as this
new template, and is already approved.)  However, I want to be able to use
components licensed under these terms, combine them with other open source
software (say, stuff I write and license under AFL), and still call the
result OSI certified.

Explanation of the Template:

Square brakets hold optional text.

Angle brackets hold "fields", as usual.  If a field appears more than once,
subsequent appearances might use a short form, e.g. see <copyright holder>
in the Python 1.5.x and in the AWK license.

Small variations in capitalization and whitespace do not matter.

The template:

  [<license name>]
  Copyright [(C)] <year(s)> [by] <copyright holder>[.]
  [All rights reserved][.]

  Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software and
  its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
  provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies, [and]
  that both the copyright notice and this permission notice appear
  in supporting documentation[, and that the name [of] <copyright holder>
  [or <related entities>] not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining
  to distribution of the software without specific, written prior
  permission].  [<copyright holder> makes no representations about
  the suitability of this software for any purpose.  It is provided "as is"
  without express or implied warranty.]

  [<copyright holder> DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD
  TO THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES
  OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL
  <copyright holder(s)> BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT
  OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER
  RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN
  AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS
  ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR
  PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.]

Examples of licenses that follow this template:

--

License for Scintilla and SciTE

Copyright 1998-2002 by Neil Hodgson <neilh at scintilla.org>

All Rights Reserved

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
supporting documentation.

NEIL HODGSON DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS
SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
AND FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL NEIL HODGSON BE LIABLE FOR ANY
SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS,
WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER
TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE
OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

* This license omits the optional no-endorsement clause, and includes the
long disclaimer.  It also has a typo, I think ("and that both that copyright
notice") but maybe it was intentional; if so I suppose it could be
incorporated into the template.

---

License for AT&T AWK

Copyright (C) Lucent Technologies 1997
All Rights Reserved

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and
its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby
granted, provided that the above copyright notice appear in all
copies and that both that the copyright notice and this
permission notice and warranty disclaimer appear in supporting
documentation, and that the name Lucent Technologies or any of
its entities not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining
to distribution of the software without specific, written prior
permission.

LUCENT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE,
INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS.
IN NO EVENT SHALL LUCENT OR ANY OF ITS ENTITIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY
SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER
IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION,
ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF
THIS SOFTWARE.

* This template includes the no-endorsement clause and the long disclaimer.

---

License for OGDI - Open Geospatial Datastore Interface

Much of OGDI is implicitly or explicitly under the following
two licenses (year varies a bit):

  Copyright (C) 1995 Logiciels et Applications Scientifiques (L.A.S.) Inc
  Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software and
  its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
  provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies, that
  both the copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
  supporting documentation, and that the name of L.A.S. Inc not be used
  in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of the software
  without specific, written prior permission. L.A.S. Inc. makes no
  representations about the suitability of this software for any purpose.
  It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.

or

  Copyright (C) 1997 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada.
  Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software and
  its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
  provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies, that
  both the copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
  supporting documentation, and that the name of Her Majesty the Queen
  in Right  of Canada not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining
  to distribution of the software without specific, written prior
  permission.  Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada makes no
  representations about the suitability of this software for any purpose.
  It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.

New files written by 3i are under this copyright:

  Copyright (C) 2001 Information Interoperability Institute (3i)
  Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software and
  its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
  provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies, that
  both the copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
  supporting documentation, and that the name of 3i not be used
  in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of the software
  without specific, written prior permission.  3i makes no
  representations about the suitability of this software for any purpose.
  It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.

* These all include the no-endorsement clause, and use the short disclaimer.

---

CWI permission notice for Python circa 1.5.

CWI PERMISSIONS STATEMENT AND DISCLAIMER
----------------------------------------
Copyright (c) 1991 - 1995, Stichting Mathematisch Centrum Amsterdam, The
Netherlands. All rights reserved.

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided
that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that both that
copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting
documentation, and that the name of Stichting Mathematisch Centrum or CWI
not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of the
software without specific, written prior permission.

STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS
SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS,
IN NO EVENT SHALL STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL,
INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM
LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE
OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR
PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

* This uses the no-endorsement and the long disclaimer.
--
license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3