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Is this copyright/license agreement Octave-compatible
From: |
Josh Rigler |
Subject: |
Is this copyright/license agreement Octave-compatible |
Date: |
Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:05:40 -0700 |
User-agent: |
Thunderbird 2.0.0.9 (Windows/20071031) |
Long ago (c.2001), I asked a question on this list about an overly
simple copyright/license statement that came with NASA's CDF libraries
at the time:
http://www.nabble.com/Is-this-an-Octave-compatible-license--tf3314371.html#a9216467
In short, JWE felt that it was inadequate because it tried to restrict
'for profit' redistribution, and more importantly, it tried to restrict
modifications to the software. I had little choice but to keep my CDF
toolbox to myself, and sadly, it was never fully implemented, since I
never needed more than the ability to read data from existing files.
More recently, I've had reason to look into the project again, and found
this new (if only marginally less simple) copyright/license statement on
NASA's CDF website (I changed nothing but formatting, all parenthetical
statements belong to NASA):
This software may be copied or redistributed as long as it is
not sold for profit, but it can be incorporated into any other
substantive product with or without modifications for profit or
non-profit. If the software is modified, it must include the
following notices:
* The software is not the original (for protection of the
original author's reputations from any problems introduced
by others)
* Change history (e.g. date, functionality, etc.)
This copyright notice must be reproduced on each copy made.
This software is provided as is without any express or implied
warranties whatsoever.
For the life of me I don't know why they didn't just follow HDF and
NetCDF's lead and write a genuine OSS-compliant license, but it does
seem like it addresses the concerns raised by JWE over six years ago.
It no longer restricts modifications, and may be included with something
that is sold for profit, if incorporated into a 'substantive product'.
I'm not sure what 'substantive product' means, but I am inclined to
interpret this with infinite breadth until NASA chooses to clarify.
Would anyone care to take a moment to consider this and give me their
interpretation? Thanks.
-EJR
- Is this copyright/license agreement Octave-compatible,
Josh Rigler <=