[License-review] Submitting CC0 for OSI approval

Richard Fontana rfontana at redhat.com
Fri Feb 17 23:03:09 UTC 2012


On Fri, Feb 17, 2012 at 10:03:37PM +0000, Thorsten Glaser wrote:
> Richard Fontana dixit:
> 
> >I am not sure whether there is precedent for an OSI-approved license
> >(at least, one that is, today, widely used) that explicitly reserves
> >all patent rights.
> 
> I think OSI approves copyright licences. CC0 is merely explicit in
> not granting one, whereas others explicitly grant one or can be
> constructed (or not) to do that implicitly.
> 
> So, while this question is not without interest, it’s not relevant here.

OK. I would just like the OSI to confirm that this provision of the
Open Source Definition

  7. Distribution of License

  The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the
  program is redistributed without the need for execution of an
  additional license by those parties.

  Rationale: This clause is intended to forbid closing up software by
  indirect means such as requiring a non-disclosure agreement.

is not in conflict with the provision of CC0 I quoted. (In which case,
I would be interested in understanding what that plank of the OSD
actually means. Perhaps Mr. Perens can shed some light. :)

- Richard




More information about the License-review mailing list