[License-discuss] BSD 3-clause and copyright notices

[John Cowan]

Zluty Sysel scripsit:

> Well, since the code is distributed under a license that requires
> disclosure there was some fear internally that disclosure and license
> reproduction would be mandatory for all users of the source code.

It is a mistake to suppose that the BSD and similar licenses require
disclosure of the source code.  Rather, they presuppose it.  If you
are in possession of the source code, you get certain rights; if you
aren't in possession, you get no rights.

There is code in Windows that was licensed under the BSD license�, but
that fact does not mean that anyone outside Microsoft has the right
to receive that source code from Microsoft.

-- 
John Cowan          http://www.ccil.org/~cowan        cowan at ccil.org
Don't be so humble.  You're not that great.
        --Golda Meir