For Approval: Boost Software License - Version 1.0 - August 17th, 2003

Matthew Flaschen matthew.flaschen at gatech.edu
Sun Sep 16 00:07:38 UTC 2007


Chris Travers wrote:

> Note the language "and to prepare derivative works of the software."
> 
> Maybe you are referring to something else?

It says you can "prepare", but not that you can distribute them.  But I
believe Alex Terekhov and John Cowan have both noted that once you have
permission to create a derivative work, no special permission to
distribute it is necessary.  If they want to impose conditions on the
distribution of a derivative work, this has to be done explicitly.

I think this is is a non-issue.  It is also very strongly implied by
"must be included in all copies of the Software, in whole or in part,
and all derivative works of the Software" that derivative works can be
distributed.  I can't seriously imagine any judge ruling otherwise.

This license is closely based on the approved MIT license
(http://opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php), which doesn't
explicitly grant the right to distribute derivative works either, but
again there's no other reasonable interpretation.

I think this license is clearly compliant with the OSD, and should be
approved.  If it hasn't been properly submitted for approval, please say
what needs to be done.

Matt Flaschen



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