[License-review] Submission: CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible

[Max Mehl]

Dear all,

Following a discussion on license-discuss@<https://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-discuss_lists.opensource.org/2026-March/022526.html> and a quick coordination with Deb from the Python Software Foundation (in Cc), I would like to propose that CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible be considered an officially approved (legacy) Open Source license. In the same step, I propose to mark CNRI-Python as either Superseded or Voluntarily Retired.

In parallel, I propose the same for Python-2.0.1, for which I opened a separate thread.

I will not repeat all the backstory but refer to the aforementioned discussion and spdx/license-list-XML#2197<https://github.com/spdx/license-list-XML/issues/2197>. In short: CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible is what most closely represents the CNRI portion of the license under which CPython has been published since 2001<https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-201/> (in combination with 0BSD for documentation). In comparison with CNRI-Python, which is already OSI approved, the most remarkable difference is an update to make it GPL compatible.

Attached, you will find the license text for CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible as made available by SPDX, as well as a diff file against CNRI-Python (ignoring formatting and some non-critical boilerplate texts to make things easier for you).

Best,
Max

--
Max Mehl
Open Source / Supply Chain
Enterprise-Team Chief Technology Office (CTO)
DB Systel GmbH / Deutsche Bahn

Schedule a meeting: cal.com/mxmehl<https://cal.com/mxmehl>


________________________________

Pflichtangaben anzeigen<https://www.deutschebahn.com/pflichtangaben/20260319>

N?here Informationen zur Datenverarbeitung im DB-Konzern finden Sie hier: https://www.deutschebahn.com/de/konzern/datenschutz
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/attachments/20260320/310958b8/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
CNRI OPEN SOURCE GPL-COMPATIBLE LICENSE AGREEMENT

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING AGREEMENT CAREFULLY.

BY CLICKING ON "ACCEPT" WHERE INDICATED BELOW, OR BY COPYING, INSTALLING OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 1.6.1 SOFTWARE, YOU ARE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT.

1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Corporation for National Research Initiatives, having an office at 1895 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA 20191 ("CNRI"), and the Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using Python 1.6.1 software in source or binary form and its associated documentation.

2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, CNRI hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 1.6.1 alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that CNRI's License Agreement and CNRI's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright © 1995-2001 Corporation for National Research Initiatives; All Rights Reserved" are retained in Python 1.6.1 alone or in any derivative version prepared by Licensee. Alternately, in lieu of CNRI's License Agreement, Licensee may substitute the following text (omitting the quotes): "Python 1.6.1 is made available subject to the terms and conditions in CNRI's License Agreement. This Agreement together with Python 1.6.1 may be located on the Internet using the following unique, persistent identifier (known as a handle): 1895.22/1013. This Agreement may also be obtained from a proxy server on the Internet using the following URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1895.22/1013".

3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on or incorporates Python 1.6.1 or any part thereof, and wants to make the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of the changes made to Python 1.6.1.

4. CNRI is making Python 1.6.1 available to Licensee on an "AS IS" basis. CNRI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, CNRI MAKES NO AND DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 1.6.1 WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.

5. CNRI SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON 1.6.1 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 1.6.1, OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.

6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material breach of its terms and conditions.

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.

8. By clicking on the "ACCEPT" button where indicated, or by copying, installing or otherwise using Python 1.6.1, Licensee agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License Agreement.

ACCEPT
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: CNRI-Python-CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible.diff
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 7150 bytes
Desc: CNRI-Python-CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible.diff
URL: <http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/attachments/20260320/310958b8/attachment-0001.a>