For Approval: The netX Public Lisense (in plain text)

Wed Oct 6 12:23:08 UTC 2010

Dear Mr. Nelson,
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of our client Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemaustomation mbH, Rheinstraße 15, 65795 Hattersheim/ Germany (license steward), we hereby provide you with a formal request for Approval of a new Open Source License (netX Public License). We have already sent you this Approval request twice, on Septemer 7, 2010 and on October 4, 2010. To ensure the proper reception of the approval and the relevant documents, we hereby transmit it to you again in plain text format.

Please find below (in plaintext-format) the English and German version of the netX Public License, the results of our corresponding legal analysis and the other required documents for the approval-process.

In terms of further remarks we refer to the attached License and the legal analysis.

As far as you need additional information concerning the netX Public License, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours faithfully,

Christian Solmecke
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Christian Solmecke, LL.M.
Rechtsanwalt

WILDE BEUGER & SOLMECKE
Rechtsanwälte
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring 27-29
50672 Köln

Tel. +49 (0) 221 951563-45
Fax +49 (0) 221 951563-3

www.wbs-law.de

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English version of the "netX Public License"

The netX Public License

Version 1.0

Preamble

An indispensable requirement to a practice-oriented enhancement of a computer Program is the dialogue with the users thereof. However, a communication on an eye level can only be successful if adequate information is provided. Therefore and in accordance with the principles of free software, this License shall grant to the Licensee the right to modify this Program according to its requirements and to combine it with his own application software, to execute it in modified or unmodified form, to reproduce it, to distribute it, and to make it available to the public. For this purpose, the Licensee shall be provided with the complete source code of the Program. These rights licensed shall be free of any costs and charges. However, accepting this License Agreement, Licensee acknowledges certain obligations, which are imposed on him and which are restricted to the distribution of the source code and the modification of the Kernel interface. In particular any equipment manufacturers shall not be obliged to publish or to identify the Program used while using it on their equipments.

§ 0 Definitions

License: the agreement concluded between the owner of rights and the Licensee regarding the "netX Public License" respectively its offer.

Licensee: any natural person or legal entity using the Program in accordance with the terms of this License.

Program: any Computer Program distributed or made available to the public by the owner of rights according to the provisions of this License Agreement.

Source code: the text of the Program, readable by humans written in programming language.

Kernel interface: a Program as interface between the operating system-independent Programs and the operating system.

Public: any passing-on or transfer not solely directed towards a certain group of persons linked to each other by personal connections or associated through their affiliation to a legal entity.

To make available to the public: public distribution or transfer of the Program in an immaterial form, in particular, by making the work available for retrieval in data networks.

Owner of rights: the author respectively the authors or any other holder of the exclusive utilisation rights to the Program.

To modify: any alteration, further development, extension and shortening of the Program.

To distribute: any public dissemination of physical copies and offering of same to the public, in particular on to storage devices or in connection with hardware.

§ 1 Conclusion of the Agreement

(1) These License terms shall constitute an offer by the owner of rights to any person to enter an Agreement for the use of the Program on the following terms set out hereinafter.

(2) The Licensee shall be entitled to use the Program in accordance with the applicable laws and the regulations of this Agreement without a separate acceptance by the Licensor being required.

(3) The License agreement shall be concluded by the Licensee distributing the Program, making it available to the public, modifying it or reproducing it in a way not exceeding the intended use in the sense of clause 2. Henceforth, the License shall be deemed a legally binding agreement between the owners of rights and the Licensee without the need of the owners of rights to receive a declaration of acceptance.  The distribution of equipment with the Program already installed is equally to be deemed a distribution.

(4) The License agreement shall always be concluded directly between the owner of rights and the Licensee even if the latter obtained the Program from a third party. Sublicensing or any other transfer of rights shall be not permitted.

§ 2 Rights of the Licensee

(1) The Licensee shall be entitled to reproduce, distribute and make the Program available to the public in unmodified and/ or modified form, either free of charge or for remuneration.

(2) However the granting of these rights of use by the owner of the rights shall be free of charge.

(3) Any further distribution and the making available to the public of modified and/ or unmodified Program versions shall not necessarily be made under the conditions of this License Agreement, provided that it is not a modification of the Kernel interface according to § 4 clause 2 of this Agreement.

§ 3 Third Party Rights

Insofar the use, the reproduction, the distribution and the making available to the public of the Program shall affect rights of third parties - in particular patents or program libraries - the Licensee shall be obliged to acquire the required rights at his own discretion and expenses.

§ 4 Obligations of the Licensee

(1) Provided that the Licensee reproduces, distributes or makes the source code of the Program available to the public in modified and/ or unmodified form, the License itself as well as the source code must incorporate a clear reference to the following website:

http://www.industrialNETworX.com

(2) Provided that the Program is a Kernel interface, changes must be uploaded to the website http://www.industrialNETworX.com by the way of uploading the respective source code and - contrary to § 2 clause 3 - released under the terms of this License.

§ 5 Termination of the Rights in the event of violations

(1) Any violation and infringement of the provisions of this License by the Licensee shall result in an immediate termination of this License Agreement.

(2) Any rights of third parties having obtained the Program or rights to the Program from the Licensee shall remain unaffected by such an immediate termination.

§ 6 Liability and Warranties

(1) The liability of the owner of rights is limited to intention and gross negligence.

(2) As far as a warranty of the licensor is provided by statute solely in case of fraudulent concealment of deficiencies, legal provisions shall apply.

§ 7 Governing law and place of jurisdiction

(1) This License is governed by the Laws of Germany.

(2) As far as the Licensees are merchants, legal entities under public law or fund assets governed by public law the place of jurisdiction shall be Frankfurt am Main.

§ 8 Severability Clause

The invalidity of a provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof.

Annex:

The licensed Program may be obtained and downloaded under http://www.industralNETworX.com."

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German Version: Die netX Public Lizenz

Version 1.0

Präambel

Unverzichtbare Grundvoraussetzung für die praxisgerechte Weiterentwicklung eines Computerprogramms ist der Dialog mit dessen Nutzern. Eine Kommunikation auf Augenhöhe kann jedoch nur gelingen, wenn hierfür auch die entsprechenden Informationen zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Diese Lizenz gewährt dem Lizenznehmer daher, den Grundsätzen der Freien Software entsprechend, das Recht, dieses Programm seinen Bedürfnissen anzupassen und mit eigener Applikationssoftware zu kombinieren, es in veränderter oder unveränderter Form auszuführen, zu vervielfältigen, zu verbreiten und öffentlich zugänglich zu machen. Dazu wird dem Lizenznehmer der vollständige Quellcode des Programms zur Verfügung gestellt. Diese Rechte werden lizenzgebührenfrei eingeräumt. Jedoch werden dem Lizenznehmer durch die Annahme dieses Lizenzvertrages auch Pflichten auferlegt, die sich auf die Verbreitung des Quellcodes und die Veränderung von Kernel-Schnittstellen beschränken. Insbesondere entstehen dem Gerätehersteller bei Verwendung des Programms auf seinen Geräten keine weiteren Pflichten zur Veröffentlichung oder Kenntlichmachung des verwendeten Programms.

§ 0 Definitionen

Lizenz: Die zwischen dem Rechteinhaber und dem Lizenznehmer geschlossene Vereinbarung mit dem Inhalt der "netX Public Lizenz" bzw. das Angebot hierzu.

Lizenznehmer: Jede natürliche oder juristische Person, die das Programm nach den Bedingungen dieser Lizenz nutzt.

Programm: Jedes Computerprogramm, das nach den Bestimmungen dieser Lizenz von den Rechteinhabern verbreitet oder öffentlich zugänglich gemacht worden ist.

Quellcode: Der für Menschen lesbare, in Programmiersprache abgefasste Text des Programms.

Kernel-Schnittstelle: Programm als Interface zwischen dem vom Betriebssystem unabhängigen, funktionalen Programm und einem Betriebssystem.

Öffentlich: Jede Weitergabe oder Übermittlung, die nicht nur an einen bestimmten Personenkreis gerichtet ist, dessen Mitglieder durch persönliche Beziehungen oder die Zugehörigkeit zu einer juristischen Person miteinander verbunden sind.

Öffentlich zugänglich machen: Die öffentliche Weitergabe bzw. Übermittlung des Programms in unkörperlicher Form, insbesondere die Bereithaltung des Werkes zum Abruf in Datennetzen.

Rechteinhaber: Der bzw. die Urheber oder sonstigen Inhaber der ausschließlichen Nutzungsrechte an dem Programm.

Verändern: Jede Bearbeitung, Weiterentwicklung, Erweiterung und Kürzung des Programms.

Verbreiten: Jede öffentliche Weitergabe körperlicher Vervielfältigungsstücke und deren Angebot an die Öffentlichkeit, insbesondere auf Datenträgern oder in Verbindung mit Hardware.

§ 1 Vertragsschluss

(1) Diese Lizenzbestimmungen stellen ein Angebot des Rechteinhabers an jedermann auf Abschluss eines Vertrages über die Nutzung des Programms unter den Bedingungen dieser Lizenz dar.
(2) Der Lizenznehmer darf das Programm nach den jeweils anwendbaren gesetzlichen Vorschriften bestimmungsgemäß benutzen, ohne dass es der Annahme dieser Lizenz durch den Lizenzgeber bedarf.

 (3) Der Lizenzvertrag kommt zustande, indem der Lizenznehmer das Programm verbreitet, öffentlich zugänglich macht, verändert oder in einer Weise vervielfältigt, die über die bestimmungsgemäße Nutzung im Sinne von Absatz 2 hinausgeht. Ab diesem Zeitpunkt ist diese Lizenz als rechtlich verbindlicher Vertrag zwischen den Rechteinhabern und dem Lizenznehmer geschlossen, ohne dass es eines Zugangs der Annahmeerklärung bei den Rechteinhabern bedarf. Als Verbreitung ist auch der Vertrieb von Geräten mit bereits installiertem Programm anzusehen.

(4) Der Lizenzvertrag kommt stets unmittelbar zwischen dem Rechteinhaber und dem Lizenznehmer zustande, auch wenn dieser das Programm von einem Drittem erhalten hat. Eine Unterlizenzierung oder Übertragung der Rechte ist nicht gestattet.

§ 2 Rechte des Lizenznehmers

(1) Der Lizenznehmer darf das Programm in unveränderter und/oder veränderter Form entgeltlich oder unentgeltlich vervielfältigen, verbreiten und öffentlich zugänglich machen.

(2) Die Einräumung dieser Nutzungsrechte durch den Rechteinhaber erfolgt unentgeltlich.

(3) Die weitere Verbreitung und öffentliche Zugänglichmachung von veränderten und/oder unveränderten Programmversionen muss nicht zwingend unter den Bedingungen dieser Lizenz erfolgen, sofern es sich nicht um eine Veränderung der Kernel-Schnittstellen gem. § 4 Abs. 2 handelt.

§ 3 Rechte Dritter

Sofern die Nutzung, Vervielfältigung, Verbreitung oder öffentliche Zugänglichmachung des Programms Rechte Dritter - insbesondere Patente oder Programmbibliotheken - betrifft, so hat der Lizenznehmer die erforderlichen Rechte selbständig einzuholen.

§ 4 Pflichten des Lizenznehmers

(1) Sofern der Lizenznehmer den Quellcode des Programms in unveränderter und/oder veränderter Form vervielfältigt, verbreitet und/oder öffentlich zugänglich macht, müssen sowohl die Lizenz als auch der Quellcode einen deutlich wahrnehmbaren Hinweis auf die Internetadresse "http://www.industrialNETworX.com" enthalten.

 (2) Sofern es sich bei dem unter dieser Lizenz stehenden Programm um eine Kernel-Schittstelle handelt, müssen Veränderungen auf die Internetseite http://www.industrialNETworX.com im Quellcode hoch geladen und - abweichend zu § 2 Abs. 3 - wieder unter diese Lizenz gestellt werden.

§ 5 Beendigung der Rechte bei Zuwiderhandlung

(1) Jeder Verstoß des Lizenznehmers gegen die Bedingungen dieser Lizenz führt zu einem automatischen Erlöschen seiner Rechte aus dieser Lizenz.

(2) Die Rechte Dritter, die das Programm oder Rechte an dem Programm von dem Lizenznehmer erhalten haben, bleiben hiervon unberührt.

§ 6 Haftung und Gewährleistung

(1) Die Haftung des Rechteinhabers ist auf Vorsatz und grobe Fahrlässigkeit beschränkt.

(2) Soweit nach dem Gesetz eine Gewährleistung des Lizenzgebers nur bei einem arglistigen Verschweigen von Mängeln vorgesehen ist, gelten die gesetzlichen Regelungen.

§ 7 Anwendbares Recht und Gerichtsstandsvereinbarung

(1) Auf diese Lizenz findet deutsches Recht Anwendung.

(2) Soweit die Lizenznehmer Kaufleute, juristische Personen des öffentlichen Rechts oder öffentlich-rechtliche Sondervermögen sind, ist der Gerichtsstand Frankfurt am Main.

§ 8 Salvatorische Klausel

Stellt sich eine der vorstehenden Klauseln als unwirksam heraus, berührt dies die Wirksamkeit dieser Lizenzbestimmungen im Übrigen nicht.

Anhang:
Die unter dieser Lizenz stehende Software kann über die Internetseite http://www.industrialNETworX.com heruntergeladen werden.

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Wilde Beuger & Solmecke Lawyers, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring 27-29, D-50672 Cologne

Legal Analysis: Conformity of the "netX Public License" with the Open Source Definition

The below legal analysis will review the paragraphs of the netX Public License for the conformity with the Open Source Definition.

1. § 0 Definitions

§ 0 netX Public License does not constitute a contravention of the Open Source Definition, because this paragraph only contains definitions of terms used in the License.

2. § 1 Conclusion of the Agreement

§ 1 netX Public License also complies with the terms of the Open Source Definitions. In particular § 1 takes into account the principles of non-discrimination of paragraph 5 of the Open Source Definition. The netX Public License comes into effect when the Program is distributed or made available to the public, so as no one can be excluded from using the Program.

3. § 2 Rights of the Licensee

§ 2 netX Public License primarily complies with paragraph 1 of the Open Source Definition concerning the "Free Redistribution" of the License. According to § 2 clause 1 netX Public License the Licensee will be allowed to redistribute the Program free of charge or for remuneration. Furthermore § 2 clause 2 netX Public License ensures, that the grant of rights does not require a royalty or other fee, as stipulated in paragraph 1 clause 2 Open Source Definition.

As a result the Open Source Definition is complied in this regard as well.

4. § 3 Third Party Rights

a. Conformity with paragraph 1 of the Open Source Definition

§ 3 netX Public License does not restrict the right of free distribution according to paragraph 1 of the Open Source Definition. The free distribution is ensured by § 2 netX Public License. In this regard § 3 netX Public License only contains an indemnity clause in case of the collision with rights of third parties.

b. Conformity with paragraph 7 of the Open Source Definition

§ 3 netX Public License clarifies, that in case of the existence of third party rights, the Licensee has to apply for those rights at his own discretion and expenses.

In this context one might think of a disregard of paragraph 7 Open Source Definition. According to paragraph 7 of the Definition the License must apply to all persons obtaining the Program without having to purchase another license.  The granting of rights of the Open Source License does not have to be conditional on purchasing another license.

In this case, it should be noted that § 3 netX Public License not necessarily assumes the existence of rights of third parties. § 3 netX Public License rather shall be for clarifying purposes only, because in the area of intellectual property law, the conflict of different laws cannot be wholly eliminated.

Incidentally, there are also paragraphs in already certified Open Source Licenses, which are very similar to § 3 netX Public License. Here again it is made clear, that in case of the existence of third party rights, the Licensee is responsible to obtain the corresponding licenses. As an example we cite paragraph 2 (Grant of Right) of the certified "Eclipse Public License":

"2. Grant of Rights

c) Recipient understands that although each Contributor grants the licenses to its Contributions set forth herein, no assurances are provided by any Contributor that the Program does not infringe the patent or other intellectual property rights of any other entity. Each Contributor disclaims any liability to Recipient for claims brought by any other entity based on infringement of intellectual property rights or otherwise. As a condition to exercising the rights and licenses granted hereunder, each Recipient hereby assumes sole responsibility to secure any other intellectual property rights needed, if any. For example, if a third party patent license is required to allow Recipient to distribute the Program, it is Recipient's responsibility to acquire that license before distributing the Program " (emphases mine).
Conclusion: After all this, there is no violation of paragraph 1 and 7 of the Open Source Definition by § 3 netX Public License.

5. § 4 Obligations of the Licensee

The reference duties concerning the general use of the source code and any changes and modifications of the Kernel Interface according to § 4 clause 1 and 2 netX Public License does not infringe the Open Source Definition. In order to preserve the integrity of the authors´s source code, the License can request the documentation of changes and modifications to the Program according to paragraph 4 Open Source Definition.
As a result, § 4 netX Public License is compliant with the Open Source Definition.

6. §§ 5 - 8 netX Public License

The provisions §§ 5 - 8 netX Public License are general contractual provisions such as an agreement conferring jurisdiction and a severability clause, which are unobjectionable with regard to the Open Source Definition.
§ 6 clause 1 netX Public License limits the liability of the owner of rights to intent and gross negligence. The limitation of liability could not be objected, since most the certified Open Source Licenses contain a complete liability-exclusion.

§ 6 clause 2 netX Public License contains only a reference of clarification on the legal provisions concerning the fraudulent concealment of a defect.

7. Conclusion

Summarizing the results of this legal analysis of the netX Public License according to the Open Source Definition, we can ensure that the license does not constitute any infringement against the Open Source Definition. Consequently there are no objective and legal reasons opposing the certification of the netX Public License as another Open Source License.
Therefore we ask for agreement to the proposed certification.

Christian Solmecke, LL.M.
Lawyer

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Rationale, Comparison, Classification
netX Public License

In the following we provide the rationale of the netX Public License, a comparison with similar OSI-approved licenses and a recommendation concerning the classification into an appropriate license proliferation category.

In particular:

1. Rationale for a new license

In order to guarantee a rapid evolution the netx Public License shall grant the right to the Licensee to modify this Program according to his requirements and to combine it with his own application software and redistribute it according to the principles of Free Software. This opportunity shall encourage the users helping to improve the software so that the community could benefit from the further developments.

Another specialty of this license is that any modifications of the Kernel interface must be released under the netX Public License.

2. Comparison with similar OSI-approved licenses

a. Similarities

The following OSI-approved licenses partially show similarities with the netX Public License concerning isolated clauses:

"Eclipse Public License 1.0

2. GRANT OF RIGHTS
c) Recipient understands that although each Contributor grants the licenses to its Contributions set forth herein, no assurances are provided by any Contributor that the Program does not infringe the patent or other intellectual property rights of any other entity. Each Contributor disclaims any liability to Recipient for claims brought by any other entity based on infringement of intellectual property rights or otherwise. As a condition to exercising the rights and licenses granted hereunder, each Recipient hereby assumes sole responsibility to secure any other intellectual property rights needed, if any. For example, if a third party patent license is required to allow Recipient to distribute the Program, it is Recipient's responsibility to acquire that license before distributing the Program."

"Apple Public Source License

5. Limitations on Patent License. Except as expressly stated in Section 2, no other patent rights, express or implied, are granted by Apple herein. Modifications and/or Larger Works may require additional patent licenses from Apple which Apple may grant in its sole discretion."

"Common Public Attribution License Version 1.0

3.4 Intellectual Property Matters
(a) Third party Claims
If Contributor has knowledge that a license under a third party's intellectual property rights is required to exercise the rights granted by such Contributor under Sections 2.1 or 2.2, Contributor must include a text file with the Source Code distribution titled "LEGAL" which describes the claim and the party making the claim in sufficient detail that a recipient will know whom to contact. If Contributor obtains such knowledge after the Modification is made available as described in Section 3.2, Contributor shall promptly modify the LEGAL file in all copies Contributor makes available thereafter and shall take other steps (such as notifying appropriate mailing lists or newsgroups) reasonably calculated to inform those who received the Covered Code that new knowledge has been obtained."
All the above cited clauses clarify, that in case of the existence of third party rights, the Licensee is responsible to obtain the corresponding licenses at his own discretion and expenses. This rule represents also a characteristic of the netX Public License according to § 3.

b. Unique features
Despite these similarities, the above mentioned licenses will not suffice for our needs and the Program itself, which shall be released under the netX Public License. That is because the netX Public License shows unique features in certain areas.

For instance the netX Public License asks for a restriction concerning modifications of the Kernel interface. Compared with other modifications of the Program, modifications of the Kernel interface must be released under the netX Public License.

In this regard, other certified Open Source Licenses (e.g. the GNU General Public License) frequently ask for a general reference duty concerning any modifications of the source code in order to preserve the integrity of the author´s source code. Whereas, the netX Public License solely demands for references with regard to modification if the licensed Program is a Kernel interface.

Because this unique characteristic of the netX Public License is considered by no other approved Open Source License, we demand for Approval as an Open Source License.

3. License proliferation category

Concerning the classification into a License proliferation category and their corresponding criteria the netX Public License presumably should be classified into the "Licenses that are popular and widely used with strong communities". Due to the flexible use of the licensed Program in the netX Public License we suspect, that the Program could be widely used within certain communities. It is planned to build up a strong community on the website www.industrialNETworX.com. Nevertheless, because of the lack of practice and experience we have to outline, that this is just an assumption.
Apart from that, there is no other special category which fits to the netX Public License, so that the License probably has to be classified as "Other/ Miscellaneous licenses".