[License-discuss] Better Attribution License (Formerly Berkeley-Artistic License)

[Lucy Ada Randall]

On 2025-03-23 06:14, Lucy Ada Randall wrote:
> Hello! I've recently taken feedback about my license and updated the 
> name and text of the Berkeley-Artistic License. This updated version of 
> the license may be found at https://github.com/anoraktrend/BAL and I 
> would like some feedback on the modified version of the license before 
> I try to submit it once again. For those of us who do not want to use 
> github, the important part of the readme follows:
> This License was originally made as a means of creating a more legible, 
> correct, and up to date variation of Artistic License V1, that has been 
> conformed to my personal interpretation of the BSD, (Berkeley), style. 
> I have since shifted focus to creating a license that makes attribution 
> of contributing developers easier. It differs from BSD and Artistic v2 
> in that it is not re-licensable and it is copyleft rather than 
> permissive. It differs from GPL in that it's short, Clear, and 
> accessible. The attribution of developers is also made simpler via the 
> addition of a metadata file to credit the contributers to the project.
> 
> This license has the following features:
> 
> - Copyleft
> 
> - No Attribution by default
> 
> - Contributors listed in a Metadata file.
> 
> (end readme)
> 
> I'll also directly link the text of the license as mailing lists tend 
> to mangle attachments, and immediately reply with the full text of the 
> license.
> https://raw.githubusercontent.com/anoraktrend/BAL/refs/heads/main/license
(FULL LICENSE TEXT)
The Better Attribution License
I: Metadata: Please see the Metadata file for up-to-date metadata for 
this project. This is only the initial metadata as of the introduction 
of this license.
Project: The Better Attribution License
Project developer: Anoraktrend AKA Lucy Ada Randall

II: Definitions
Standard Version: The project which is the basis for modified versions, 
also known as upstream.
Modified Versions: versions of the source code distributed by the 
project that have been modified, which can be distributed as 
executables, downstream.
The Software refers to the project, which is a collection of files 
distributed by the Project Developer, the "Standard Version", and 
derivatives of that collection of files created through modification of 
the source code, the "Modified Version".

III: License Terms
1. You may make and give away verbatim copies of the source form of the 
Standard Version of this Software without restriction, provided that you 
duplicate all of the original copyright notices, this license (including 
the Metadata file), and associated disclaimers.

2. You may apply bug fixes, portability fixes and other modifications 
from the Project Developer or other developers (including yourself) to 
enable this software to work with modern tools, new hardware, new 
operating systems, etc. You may distribute software modified in such a 
way as the Standard Version, so long as you provide the source code of 
that modified software free of charge and undue hassle to purchasers or 
recievers of said modified software.

3. You may otherwise modify your copy of this Software in any way, 
including adding features and self-percieved optimizations of the source 
code, provided that your modifications use this license or you do not 
distribute the resulting code.

4. You may choose to add your name to the contributors list within the 
metadata file, to allow the Project Developer to credit you for your 
modifications in the Standard Version of the Software.

5. You may distribute your modified copy of this Software in executable 
form, provided that you make it clear that your distribution of this 
code is modified, provide a modified copy of this license, and provide a 
method to obtain both the source of the Standard Version and the source 
of your Modified Version free of charge or undue hassle. You must modify 
your license to change the project and project developer, labeling your 
modified version as a the project and yourself as the project developer, 
and moving any prior project developer to be the primary Contributor 
within the metadata file.

6. You may distribute this Software, with or without fee, provided that 
you do not advertise the Standard Version of this Software as a product 
of your own.

7. Neither the name of the project nor the name, username, handle, etc, 
of the project developer or contributors may be used to endorse or 
promote products derived from this software without specific prior 
written permission.

8. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL 
WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES 
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE 
FOR ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, 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