Subject: Re: Last chance: Copyrights is OK ?
To: Bill Studenmund <wrstuden@nas.nasa.gov>
From: Jason Thorpe <thorpej@nas.nasa.gov>
List: tech-kern
Date: 03/08/1999 12:23:08
On Mon, 8 Mar 1999 10:33:40 -0800 (PST)
Bill Studenmund <wrstuden@nas.nasa.gov> wrote:
For comparison, here is what NetBSD Foundation, Inc. license terms look
like:
> > /*
> > * Copyright (c) 1998 Greg A. Woods <woods@planix.com>
> > *
> > * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
> > * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
> > * are met:
> > *
> > * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain this entire copyright
> > * notice, and the following disclaimer, without alteration, in each
> > * source and documentation file.
* 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
> > * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce this entire
> > * copyright notice, the following disclaimer, without alteration, in
> > * the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
> > * distribution.
* 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
* documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
> I think this restriction is a hassle. It means that we have to stick the
> whole message in the release notes, whereas now all we have to do
> typically is say, "This product contains software developed by XXX." I
> think these copyrights are verbose in general (not just this one :-), and
> to have to stick one in the release notes is ugly.
The only difference between Greg's and the standard TNF/UCB license terms
is the ", without alteration, "... and the poor grammar in Greg's version :-)
> Greg, given that no one can use your name for endorsements, why are you
> concerned that the disclamer goes in the notes? Has someone sued you or
> something?
>
> > * 3. The name of the author may NOT be used to endorse or promote
> > * products derived from this software without specific prior written
> > * permission.
> > *
> > * 4. Altered versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
> > * misrepresented as being the original software. This copyright
> > * notice, and the following, disclaimer must not be removed from any
> > * derivative work and must not be changed in any way.
>
> Everything else looks ok.
This last one is bloody annoying, actually. But, I suppose one could
always just put a comment in the top of the file saying - "This was modified
from the original".
Really, the best thing here would be for Greg to assign copyright to
The NetBSD Foundation, Inc.
-- Jason R. Thorpe <thorpej@nas.nasa.gov>