[License-review] [license review] Mulan PSL V1
Carlo Piana
carlo at piana.eu
Tue Dec 3 08:54:01 UTC 2019
Dear professor Zhou,
I have one observation and one criticism.
The observation is that this looks like a couple of licenses like the
BSD+patents. While arguably the text is more streamlined and modern,
building on the experience in licensing that we have accrued since the
BSD times, I wonder if there is such desperate need for yet another
license. Except perhaps one in Chinese.
The criticism is founded on a long debated issue about whether
multi-language licenses are a good idea. As you know, GNU GPL family
decided that the only ever authoritative version is the English one, and
I tend to agree with the rationale underneath. It is tremendously
difficult to exactly match the same meaning across multiple languages,
and my experience in dissecting legal instruments of the EU -- limiting
to those few languages I am reasonably confident perusing -- is that it
is very difficult to find a single meaning. Often one should find it
comparing different versions and with the help of the recitals, and yet
it is very difficult to reach a final point.
Moreover, you state in your introduction that the rule is (roughly)
"either is normative". But that rule is nowhere expressed in the license
itself. I am afraid this would then be totally left to the local court,
in case. Yet, a license lives not only in court, but also in the current
interpretation of those using it, who would not have the benefit of a
third party picking up one version or the other.
Frankly, I see little merit in creating confusion by using two languages
on equal footing. On the other hand, the fact that the license is
non-copyleft reduces the concerns on possible negative consequences.
I wonder if those concerns have also been tackled in your legal
analysis, and what the answer were, in case.
I totally love the name of the license.
With best regards,
Carlo Piana
On 03/12/19 08:53, Zhou Minghui wrote:
>
> Dear OSI board members and license reviewers,
>
> Below isthe submission of Mulan Permissive Software License, Version
> 1(Mulan PSL v1) for approval.
>
> Minghui ZHOU
>
> Professor, PhD
>
> Peking University
>
> ============================
>
> *Type of submission: *Approval
>
> *License name: *木兰宽松许可证,第1版（Mulan Permissive Software
> License，Version 1）
>
> *Short Identifier: *Mulan PSL v1
>
> *URL: *http://license.coscl.org.cn/MulanPSL
>
> *Rationale:*
>
> 1. Mulan PSL v1 is expressed in both Chinese and English, which have
> the same legal effect. It is convenient for open source participants
> to read and use.
>
> 2. In order to solve the existing litigation problems, Mulan PSL v1
> clarifies the authorization of copyright, patent and trademark and
> provides better legal protection.
>
> 3. For the sake of simplicity and understandability <javascript:;>,
> Mulan PSL v1 was revised jointly by technical experts and legal
> experts to simplify the terms and optimize the expression as much as
> possible on the premise of clarifying the behavior constraints of both
> parties in the License. Mulan PSL v1 is easy for users to follow.
>
> *Distinguish (from other OSI-approved permissive licenses):*
>
> Mulan PSL v1 differs from BSD 3-clause License and Apache License V2.0
> in terms of statement obligation, copyright license, patent license
> and patent retaliation.
>
> 1. Statement obligation. Mulan PSL v1 only requires that the licensed
> software to be distributed with a copy of this License and copyright,
> patent, trademark and disclaimer statements in the software.
>
> 2. Copyright license. Original licensor, subsequent contributor, and
> Affiliates of those licensors provide the Copyright license.
>
> 3. Patent license. Original licensor, subsequent contributor, and
> Affiliates of those licensors provide the patent license.
>
> 4. Patent retaliation: If a user or its Affiliates directly or
> indirectly (including through an agent, patent licensee or assignee)
> institute patent litigation (including a cross claim or counterclaim
> in a litigation) or other patent enforcement activities against any
> individual or entity by alleging that the Software or any Contribution
> in it infringes patents, then any patent license granted to the user
> or its Affiliates under this License for the Software shall terminate
> as of the date such litigation or activity is filed or taken.
>
> A comparison to existing OSS licenses and clauses, is attached to this
> submission as a license commentary.
>
>
>
>
>
> Mulan PSL v1
>
>
>
> BSD 3-Clause License
>
>
>
> Apache License V2.0
>
> Permissions
>
>
>
> üCommercial use
>
>
>
> üCommercial use
>
>
>
> üCommercial use
>
> üModification
>
>
>
> üModification
>
>
>
> üModification
>
> üDistribution
>
>
>
> üDistribution
>
>
>
> üDistribution
>
> üPrivate use
>
>
>
> üPrivate use
>
>
>
> üPrivate use
>
> üPatent license from all codes licensors their affiliates
>
>
>
>
> üPatent license from subsequent contributors and their affiliates and
> original licensor
>
> Limitations
>
>
>
> ûLiability
>
>
>
> ûLiability
>
>
>
> ûLiability
>
> ûWarranty
>
>
>
> ûWarranty
>
>
>
> ûWarranty
>
> ûTrademark use
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ûTrademark use
>
> Conditions
>
>
>
> ！License and copyright notice when distribution
>
>
>
> ！License and copyright notice when distribution
>
>
>
> ！License and copyright notice when distribution
>
> ！User's patent license automatically terminates when such user
> directly or indirectly enforces its patents on the work
>
>
>
>
> ！User's patent license automatically terminates when such user sues
> infringement of its patents on the work
>
>
>
>
>
> ！State changes
>
> *Legal Review:*
>
> Mulan PSL v1 was drafted by software experts and lawyers from
> colleges, research institutions, enterprise <javascript:;>s and open
> source communities. It has been reviewed by lawyers specialized in the
> field of intellectual property and open source software.
>
> Both the Chinese and English versions of Mulan PSL v1 have the same
> legal effect. Users can select the appropriate version in their
> jurisdiction. Mulan PSL v1 meets OSI’s definition of “Open Source” of
> OSI and OSI’s requirements. The rationale of the license is to create
> a license with easy compliance, better compatibility and comprehensive
> patent protection.
>
> *License proliferation category:*
>
> Licenses that are popular and widely used or with strong communities
>
> Mulan PSL v1 has been widely used in China open source community, more
> than 1,000 projects are licensed under Mulan PSL v1, here is a few
> typical examples:
>
> Hutool
>
>
>
> https://gitee.com/loolly/hutool
>
> OpenArkCompiler
>
>
>
> https://gitee.com/harmonyos/OpenArkCompiler
>
> IJPay
>
>
>
> https://gitee.com/javen205/IJPay
>
> IMI
>
>
>
> https://gitee.com/yurunsoft/IMI
>
> SimpleDFS
>
>
>
> https://gitee.com/FusionStack/SimpleDFS
>
> *Text of the license:*
>
> *木兰宽松**许可证， 第1版 *
>
> 2019年8月 http://license.coscl.org.cn/MulanPSL
>
> 您对“软件”的复制、使用、修改及分发受木兰宽松许可证，第1版（“本许可证”）的如下条款的约束：
>
> *0.**定义***
>
> *“软件”*是指由“贡献”构成的许可在“本许可证”下的程序和相关文档的集合。
>
> *“贡献者”*是指将受版权法保护的作品许可在“本许可证”下的自然人或“法人实体”。
>
> *“法人实体”*是指提交贡献的机构及其“关联实体”。
>
> *“关联实体”*是指，对“本许可证”下的一方而言，控制、受控制或与其共同受控制的机构，此处的控制是指有受控方或共同受控方至少50%直接或间接的投票权、资金或其他有价证券。
>
> *“贡献”*是指由任一“贡献者”许可在“本许可证”下的受版权法保护的作品。
>
> *1.**授予版权许可*
>
> 每个“贡献者”根据“本许可证”授予您永久性的、全球性的、免费的、非独占的、不可撤销的版权许可，您可以复制、使用、修改、分发其“贡献”，不论修改与否。
>
> *2.**授予专利许可*
>
> 每个“贡献者”根据“本许可证”授予您永久性的、全球性的、免费的、非独占的、不可撤销的（根据本条规定撤销除外）专利许可，供您制造、委托制造、使用、许诺销售、销售、进口其“贡献”或以其他方式转移其“贡献”。前述专利许可仅限于“贡献者”现在或将来拥有或控制的其“贡献”本身或其“贡献”与许可“贡献”时的“软件”结合而将必然会侵犯的专利权利要求，不包括仅因您或他人修改“贡献”或其他结合而将必然会侵犯到的专利权利要求。如您或您的“关联实体”直接或间接地（包括通过代理、专利被许可人或受让人），就“软件”或其中的“贡献”对任何人发起专利侵权诉讼（包括反诉或交叉诉讼）或其他专利维权行动，指控其侵犯专利权，则“本许可证”授予您对“软件”的专利许可自您提起诉讼或发起维权行动之日终止。
>
> *3.**无商标许可*
>
> “本许可证”不提供对“贡献者”的商品名称、商标、服务标志或产品名称的商标许可，但您为满足第4条规定的声明义务而必须使用除外。
>
> *4.**分发限制*
>
> 您可以在任何媒介中将“软件”以源程序形式或可执行形式重新分发，不论修改与否，但您必须向接收者提供“本许可证”的副本，并保留“软件”中的版权、商标、专利及免责声明。
>
> *5.**免责声明与责任限制*
>
> “软件”及其中的“贡献”在提供时不带任何明示或默示的担保。在任何情况下，“贡献者”或版权所有者不对任何人因使用“软件”或其中的“贡献”而引发的任何直接或间接损失承担责任，不论因何种原因导致或者基于何种法律理论,即使其曾被建议有此种损失的可能性。
>
>
> *条款结束 *
>
> *如何将木兰宽松许可证，第1版，应用到您的软件*
>
> 如果您希望将木兰宽松许可证，第1版，应用到您的新软件，为了方便接收者查阅，建议您完成如下三步：
>
> 1，请您补充如下声明中的空白，包括软件名、软件的首次发表年份以及您作为版权人的名字；
>
> 2，请您在软件包的一级目录下创建以“LICENSE”为名的文件，将整个许可证文本放入该文件中；
>
> 3， 请将如下声明文本放入每个源文件的头部注释中。
>
>
> Copyright (c) [2019] [name of copyright holder]
>
> [Software Name] is licensed under the *Mulan PSL v1*.
> You can use this software according to the terms and conditions of the
> *Mulan PSL v1.*
>
> You may obtain a copy of*Mulan PSL v1 *at:
>
> http://license.coscl.org.cn/MulanPSL**
>
> THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT warranties of
> any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to
> non-infringement, merchantability or fit for a particular purpose.
>
> See the*Mulan PSL v1 *for more details.
>
> *Mulan Permissive**Software License**，**Version 1**(Mulan PSL v1)*
>
> August 2019 http://license.coscl.org.cn/MulanPSL
>
> Your reproduction, use, modification and distribution of the Software
> shall be subject to Mulan PSL v1 (this License) with following terms
> and conditions:
>
> *0. Definition*
>
> *Software*means the program and related documents which are comprised
> of those Contribution and licensed under this License.
>
> *Contributor*means the Individual or Legal Entity who licenses its
> copyrightable work under this License.
>
> *Legal Entity*means the entity making a Contribution and all its
> Affiliates.
>
> *Affiliates*means entities that control, or are controlled by, or are
> under common control with a party to this License, ‘control’means
> direct or indirect ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) of the
> voting power, capital or other securities of controlled or commonly
> controlled entity.
>
> *Contribution *means the copyrightable work licensed by a particular
> Contributor under this License.
>
> *1. Grant of Copyright License*
>
> Subject to the terms and conditions of this License, each Contributor
> hereby grants to you a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free,
> non-exclusive, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, use,
> modify, or distribute its Contribution, with modification or not.
>
> *2. Grant of Patent License *
>
> Subject to the terms and conditions of this License, each Contributor
> hereby grants to you a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free,
> non-exclusive, irrevocable (except for revocation under this Section)
> patent license to make, have made, use, offer for sale, sell, import
> or otherwise transfer its Contribution where such patent license is
> only limited to the patent claims owned or controlled by such
> Contributor now or in future which will be necessarily infringed by
> its Contribution alone, or by combination of the Contribution with the
> Software to which the Contribution was contributed, excluding of any
> patent claims solely be infringed by your or others’modification or
> other combinations.If you or your Affiliates directly or indirectly
> (including through an agent, patent licensee or assignee) institute
> patent litigation (including a cross claim or counterclaim in a
> litigation) or other patent enforcement activities against any
> individual or entity by alleging that the Software or any Contribution
> in it infringes patents, then any patent license granted to you under
> this License for the Software shall terminate as of the date such
> litigation or activity is filed or taken.
>
> *3. No Trademark License*
>
> No trademark license is granted to use the trade names, trademarks,
> service marks, or product names of Contributor, except as required to
> fulfill notice requirements in section 4.
>
> *4. Distribution Restriction*
>
> You may distribute the Software in any medium with or without
> modification,whether in source or executable forms, provided that you
> provide recipients with a copy of this License and retain copyright,
> patent, trademark and disclaimer statements in the Software.
>
> *5. Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability*
>
> The Software and Contribution in it are provided without warranties of
> any kind, either express or implied. In no event shall any Contributor
> or copyright holder be liable to you for any damages, including, but
> not limited to any direct, or indirect, special or consequential
> damages arising from your use or inability to use the Software or the
> Contribution in it, no matter how it’s caused or based on which legal
> theory, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
>
> *End of the Terms and Conditions*
>
> *How to apply the Mulan Permissive Software License**，**Version 1
> (Mulan PSL v1) to your software*
>
> To apply the Mulan PSL v1 to your work, for easy identification by
> recipients, you are suggested to complete following three steps:
>
> i Fill in the blanks in following statement, including insert your
> software name, the year of the first publication of your software, and
> your name identified as the copyright owner;
>
> ii Create a file named “LICENSE”which contains the whole context of
> this License in the first directory of your software package;
>
> iii Attach the statement to the appropriate annotated syntax at the
> beginning of each source file.
>
>
> Copyright (c) [2019] [name of copyright holder]
>
> [Software Name] is licensed under the *Mulan PSL v1.*
> You can use this software according to the terms and conditions of the
> *Mulan PSL v1.*
>
> You may obtain a copy of *Mulan PSL v1* at:
>
> http://license.coscl.org.cn/MulanPSL
>
> THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT warranties of
> any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to
> non-infringement, merchantability or fit for a particular purpose.
>
> See the *Mulan PSL v1* for more details.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> License-review mailing list
> License-review at lists.opensource.org
> http://lists.opensource.org/mailman/listinfo/license-review_lists.opensource.org
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