1 A. HISTORY OF THE SOFTWARE
2 ==========================
4 Python was created in the early 1990s by Guido van Rossum at Stichting
5 Mathematisch Centrum (CWI, see http://www.cwi.nl) in the Netherlands
6 as a successor of a language called ABC. Guido remains Python's
7 principal author, although it includes many contributions from others.
9 In 1995, Guido continued his work on Python at the Corporation for
10 National Research Initiatives (CNRI, see http://www.cnri.reston.va.us)
11 in Reston, Virginia where he released several versions of the
14 In May 2000, Guido and the Python core development team moved to
15 BeOpen.com to form the BeOpen PythonLabs team. In October of the same
16 year, the PythonLabs team moved to Digital Creations (now Zope
17 Corporation, see http://www.zope.com). In 2001, the Python Software
18 Foundation (PSF, see http://www.python.org/psf/) was formed, a
19 non-profit organization created specifically to own Python-related
20 Intellectual Property. Zope Corporation is a sponsoring member of
23 All Python releases are Open Source (see http://www.opensource.org for
24 the Open Source Definition). Historically, most, but not all, Python
25 releases have also been GPL-compatible; the table below summarizes
28 Release Derived Year Owner GPL-
31 0.9.0 thru 1.2 1991-1995 CWI yes
32 1.3 thru 1.5.2 1.2 1995-1999 CNRI yes
33 1.6 1.5.2 2000 CNRI no
34 2.0 1.6 2000 BeOpen.com no
35 1.6.1 1.6 2001 CNRI yes (2)
36 2.1 2.0+1.6.1 2001 PSF no
37 2.0.1 2.0+1.6.1 2001 PSF yes
38 2.1.1 2.1+2.0.1 2001 PSF yes
39 2.2 2.1.1 2001 PSF yes
40 2.1.2 2.1.1 2002 PSF yes
41 2.1.3 2.1.2 2002 PSF yes
42 2.2.1 2.2 2002 PSF yes
43 2.2.2 2.2.1 2002 PSF yes
44 2.2.3 2.2.2 2003 PSF yes
45 2.3 2.2.2 2002-2003 PSF yes
49 (1) GPL-compatible doesn't mean that we're distributing Python under
50 the GPL. All Python licenses, unlike the GPL, let you distribute
51 a modified version without making your changes open source. The
52 GPL-compatible licenses make it possible to combine Python with
53 other software that is released under the GPL; the others don't.
55 (2) According to Richard Stallman, 1.6.1 is not GPL-compatible,
56 because its license has a choice of law clause. According to
57 CNRI, however, Stallman's lawyer has told CNRI's lawyer that 1.6.1
58 is "not incompatible" with the GPL.
60 Thanks to the many outside volunteers who have worked under Guido's
61 direction to make these releases possible.
64 B. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCESSING OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON
65 ===============================================================
67 PSF LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 2.3
68 ------------------------------------
70 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Python Software Foundation
71 ("PSF"), and the Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and
72 otherwise using Python 2.3 software in source or binary form and its
73 associated documentation.
75 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, PSF
76 hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
77 license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
78 prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 2.3
79 alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that PSF's
80 License Agreement and PSF's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
81 2001, 2002, 2003 Python Software Foundation; All Rights Reserved" are
82 retained in Python 2.3 alone or in any derivative version prepared by
85 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
86 or incorporates Python 2.3 or any part thereof, and wants to make
87 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
88 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
89 the changes made to Python 2.3.
91 4. PSF is making Python 2.3 available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
92 basis. PSF MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
93 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, PSF MAKES NO AND
94 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
95 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 2.3 WILL NOT
96 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
98 5. PSF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
99 2.3 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
100 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 2.3,
101 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
103 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
104 breach of its terms and conditions.
106 7. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to create any
107 relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture between PSF and
108 Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant permission to use PSF
109 trademarks or trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote
110 products or services of Licensee, or any third party.
112 8. By copying, installing or otherwise using Python 2.3, Licensee
113 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
117 BEOPEN.COM LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 2.0
118 -------------------------------------------
120 BEOPEN PYTHON OPEN SOURCE LICENSE AGREEMENT VERSION 1
122 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between BeOpen.com ("BeOpen"), having an
123 office at 160 Saratoga Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051, and the
124 Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using
125 this software in source or binary form and its associated
126 documentation ("the Software").
128 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this BeOpen Python License
129 Agreement, BeOpen hereby grants Licensee a non-exclusive,
130 royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform
131 and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works, distribute, and
132 otherwise use the Software alone or in any derivative version,
133 provided, however, that the BeOpen Python License is retained in the
134 Software, alone or in any derivative version prepared by Licensee.
136 3. BeOpen is making the Software available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
137 basis. BEOPEN MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
138 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, BEOPEN MAKES NO AND
139 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
140 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE WILL NOT
141 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
143 4. BEOPEN SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF THE
144 SOFTWARE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS
145 AS A RESULT OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THE SOFTWARE, OR ANY
146 DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
148 5. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
149 breach of its terms and conditions.
151 6. This License Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in all
152 respects by the law of the State of California, excluding conflict of
153 law provisions. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to
154 create any relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture
155 between BeOpen and Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant
156 permission to use BeOpen trademarks or trade names in a trademark
157 sense to endorse or promote products or services of Licensee, or any
158 third party. As an exception, the "BeOpen Python" logos available at
159 http://www.pythonlabs.com/logos.html may be used according to the
160 permissions granted on that web page.
162 7. By copying, installing or otherwise using the software, Licensee
163 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
167 CNRI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 1.6.1
168 ---------------------------------------
170 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Corporation for National
171 Research Initiatives, having an office at 1895 Preston White Drive,
172 Reston, VA 20191 ("CNRI"), and the Individual or Organization
173 ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using Python 1.6.1 software in
174 source or binary form and its associated documentation.
176 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, CNRI
177 hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
178 license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
179 prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 1.6.1
180 alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that CNRI's
181 License Agreement and CNRI's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
182 1995-2001 Corporation for National Research Initiatives; All Rights
183 Reserved" are retained in Python 1.6.1 alone or in any derivative
184 version prepared by Licensee. Alternately, in lieu of CNRI's License
185 Agreement, Licensee may substitute the following text (omitting the
186 quotes): "Python 1.6.1 is made available subject to the terms and
187 conditions in CNRI's License Agreement. This Agreement together with
188 Python 1.6.1 may be located on the Internet using the following
189 unique, persistent identifier (known as a handle): 1895.22/1013. This
190 Agreement may also be obtained from a proxy server on the Internet
191 using the following URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1895.22/1013".
193 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
194 or incorporates Python 1.6.1 or any part thereof, and wants to make
195 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
196 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
197 the changes made to Python 1.6.1.
199 4. CNRI is making Python 1.6.1 available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
200 basis. CNRI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
201 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, CNRI MAKES NO AND
202 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
203 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 1.6.1 WILL NOT
204 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
206 5. CNRI SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
207 1.6.1 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
208 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 1.6.1,
209 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
211 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
212 breach of its terms and conditions.
214 7. This License Agreement shall be governed by the federal
215 intellectual property law of the United States, including without
216 limitation the federal copyright law, and, to the extent such
217 U.S. federal law does not apply, by the law of the Commonwealth of
218 Virginia, excluding Virginia's conflict of law provisions.
219 Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to derivative works based
220 on Python 1.6.1 that incorporate non-separable material that was
221 previously distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the
222 law of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall govern this License
223 Agreement only as to issues arising under or with respect to
224 Paragraphs 4, 5, and 7 of this License Agreement. Nothing in this
225 License Agreement shall be deemed to create any relationship of
226 agency, partnership, or joint venture between CNRI and Licensee. This
227 License Agreement does not grant permission to use CNRI trademarks or
228 trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote products or
229 services of Licensee, or any third party.
231 8. By clicking on the "ACCEPT" button where indicated, or by copying,
232 installing or otherwise using Python 1.6.1, Licensee agrees to be
233 bound by the terms and conditions of this License Agreement.
238 CWI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 0.9.0 THROUGH 1.2
239 --------------------------------------------------
241 Copyright (c) 1991 - 1995, Stichting Mathematisch Centrum Amsterdam,
242 The Netherlands. All rights reserved.
244 Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
245 documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
246 provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
247 both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
248 supporting documentation, and that the name of Stichting Mathematisch
249 Centrum or CWI not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to
250 distribution of the software without specific, written prior
253 STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO
254 THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
255 FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM BE LIABLE
256 FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
257 WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
258 ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT
259 OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.