[License-discuss] Question about Python 2.0 license

Sat Feb 13 21:22:56 UTC 2021

You're right, Candice. I didn't read down until there, my fault. 

This is a very important difference indeed. 

The wording of this paragraph as used on the OSI site made the license incompatible with the GPL, from the point of view of the FSF (since it makes this license governed by a state law). This wording was used in Python 1.6b1, 2.0 and 2.1: [ https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.en.html#PythonOld | https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.en.html#PythonOld ] 

Earlier versions of Python didn't have this problem, they were compatible with the GPL: [ https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.en.html#Python1.6a2 | https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.en.html#Python1.6a2 ] 

Due to this problem, the license was changed later on in Python 2.0.1, 2.1.1 and all newer versions to the current wording, which again is compatible with the GPL: [ https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#Python | https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#Python ] 

For the "Python-2.0" license text on the OSI site: 

- this is not the license of Python 2.0 (although quite similar) 
Python 2.0: [ https://www.python.org/download/releases/2.0/license/ | https://www.python.org/download/releases/2.0/license/ ] 
OSI: [ https://opensource.org/licenses/Python-2.0 | https://opensource.org/licenses/Python-2.0 ] 

- it looks incompatible with the GPL (due to the paragraph 7) 

- it looks somehow older than the Python 2.0 and even 2.0b1 licenses (since it incorporates the CNRI portion of 1.6b1) 

- but then, the license is issued by the Python Software Foundation ("PSF") which means it is later than 2.1. 

At the moment I'm lost to see where this license text comes from. 

Best regards, 
Gregor Hoffleit 

PS: I just sent a mail to the webmaster begging to reformat this Python-2.0 license text. 

> Von: "Candice Wright" <timelessdevotion at gmail.com>
> An: "license-discuss" <license-discuss at lists.opensource.org>
> Gesendet: Freitag, 12. Februar 2021 21:56:16
> Betreff: Re: [License-discuss] Question about Python 2.0 license

> When I check the differences, 2.7.5 is not copied from what is listed on OSI.
> The OSI site lists Python 1.6b1 or Python 1.6, beta 1. This isn't present in
> the current version or in 2.7.5; both list 1.6.1 instead.
> Paragraph 7 in the CNRI portion is short compared to how it is in the current
> version of license.

> OSI:
> 7. This License Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in all respects
> by the law of the State of Virginia, excluding conflict of law provisions.
> Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to create any relationship of
> agency, partnership, or joint venture between CNRI and Licensee. This License
> Agreement does not grant permission to use CNRI trademarks or trade name in a
> trademark sense to endorse or promote products or services of Licensee, or any
> third party.

> Python:
> 7. This License Agreement shall be governed by the federal intellectual property
> law of the United States, including without limitation the federal copyright
> law, and, to the extent such U.S. federal law does not apply, by the law of the
> Commonwealth of Virginia, excluding Virginia's conflict of law provisions.
> Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to derivative works based on Python
> 1.6.1 that incorporate non-separable material that was previously distributed
> under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the law of the Commonwealth of
> Virginia shall govern this License Agreement only as to issues arising under or
> with respect to Paragraphs 4, 5, and 7 of this License Agreement. Nothing in
> this License Agreement shall be deemed to create any relationship of agency,
> partnership, or joint venture between CNRI and Licensee. This License Agreement
> does not grant permission to use CNRI trademarks or trade name in a trademark
> sense to endorse or promote products or services of Licensee, or any third
> party.
> Maybe the version listed on the OSI site comes from a version that only existed
> for a brief time or maybe a draft? It could be why I can't find it on the
> Python site or used by a python project.

> Candice

> On Fri, Feb 12, 2021 at 3:53 AM Gregor Hoffleit < [ mailto:gregor at hoffleit.de |
> gregor at hoffleit.de ] > wrote:

>> From what I can see, the license text on the OSI site ( [
>> https://opensource.org/licenses/Python-2.0 |
>> https://opensource.org/licenses/Python-2.0 ] ) is in fact copied from the
>> license of Python 2.7.5: [
>> https://www.python.org/download/releases/2.7.5/license/ |
>> (https://www.python.org/download/releases/2.7.5/license/ ] ).

>> The history of the Python license had a few rough edges. The Python project
>> website has a short history of Python and its license: [
>> https://docs.python.org/3/license.html | https://docs.python.org/3/license.html
>> ]

>> Most important, there was a short period in 2000/2001 in which Python was
>> distributed with licenses which were not compatible with the GPL. Namely the
>> licenses of Python 1.6, 2.0 and 2.1. This problem was later on fixed with
>> changes to the licenses in 1.6.1, 2.0.1 and 2.1.1.

>> So the license of Python 2.0 was substantially different from 2.0.1 and
>> different from the licenses of later Python versions.

>> I would have to browse through my mail archives regarding the details of the
>> problems.

>> Best regards,
>> Gregor Hoffleit

>>> Von: "Candice Wright" < [ mailto:timelessdevotion at gmail.com |
>>> timelessdevotion at gmail.com ] >
>>> An: [ mailto:license-discuss at lists.opensource.org |
>>> license-discuss at lists.opensource.org ]
>>> Gesendet: Donnerstag, 11. Februar 2021 18:38:04
>>> Betreff: [License-discuss] Question about Python 2.0 license

>>> Hi everyone!

>>> I’m trying to find out why the Python 2.0 license listed on OSI and SPDX differs
>>> some from the Python license listed on their site. I help with ClearlyDefined,
>>> which uses SPDX identifiers to identify project licenses, but the difference in
>>> the license text is having some of us think we shouldn't use 'Python-2.0' for
>>> Python projects since it isn’t a match.

>>> I’m not very familiar with the history of Python and the license, but I couldn’t
>>> find the version listed on OSI being used in the Python projects I have come
>>> across.

>>> Can someone help me understand why there is a difference and if we can update
>>> the wording to match the current Python license text?

>>> Thank you,

>>> Candice

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