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
46 2.3.1 2.3 2002-2003 PSF yes
47 2.3.2 2.3.1 2002-2003 PSF yes
48 2.3.3 2.3.2 2002-2003 PSF yes
49 2.3.4 2.3.3 2004 PSF yes
50 2.3.5 2.3.4 2005 PSF yes
52 2.4.1 2.4 2005 PSF yes
53 2.4.2 2.4.1 2005 PSF yes
54 2.4.3 2.4.2 2006 PSF yes
55 2.4.4 2.4.3 2006 PSF yes
57 2.5.1 2.5 2007 PSF yes
58 2.5.2 2.5.1 2008 PSF yes
59 2.5.3 2.5.2 2008 PSF yes
61 2.6.1 2.6 2008 PSF yes
62 2.6.2 2.6.1 2009 PSF yes
63 2.6.3 2.6.2 2009 PSF yes
64 2.6.4 2.6.3 2009 PSF yes
66 3.0.1 3.0 2009 PSF yes
67 3.1 3.0.1 2009 PSF yes
68 3.1.1 3.1 2009 PSF yes
69 3.1.2 3.1 2010 PSF yes
73 (1) GPL-compatible doesn't mean that we're distributing Python under
74 the GPL. All Python licenses, unlike the GPL, let you distribute
75 a modified version without making your changes open source. The
76 GPL-compatible licenses make it possible to combine Python with
77 other software that is released under the GPL; the others don't.
79 (2) According to Richard Stallman, 1.6.1 is not GPL-compatible,
80 because its license has a choice of law clause. According to
81 CNRI, however, Stallman's lawyer has told CNRI's lawyer that 1.6.1
82 is "not incompatible" with the GPL.
84 Thanks to the many outside volunteers who have worked under Guido's
85 direction to make these releases possible.
88 B. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCESSING OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON
89 ===============================================================
91 PYTHON SOFTWARE FOUNDATION LICENSE VERSION 2
92 --------------------------------------------
94 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Python Software Foundation
95 ("PSF"), and the Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and
96 otherwise using this software ("Python") in source or binary form and
97 its associated documentation.
99 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, PSF hereby
100 grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce,
101 analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works,
102 distribute, and otherwise use Python alone or in any derivative version,
103 provided, however, that PSF's License Agreement and PSF's notice of copyright,
104 i.e., "Copyright (c) 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
105 Python Software Foundation; All Rights Reserved" are retained in Python alone or
106 in any derivative version prepared by Licensee.
108 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
109 or incorporates Python or any part thereof, and wants to make
110 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
111 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
112 the changes made to Python.
114 4. PSF is making Python available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
115 basis. PSF MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
116 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, PSF MAKES NO AND
117 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
118 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON WILL NOT
119 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
121 5. PSF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
122 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
123 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON,
124 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
126 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
127 breach of its terms and conditions.
129 7. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to create any
130 relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture between PSF and
131 Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant permission to use PSF
132 trademarks or trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote
133 products or services of Licensee, or any third party.
135 8. By copying, installing or otherwise using Python, Licensee
136 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
140 BEOPEN.COM LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 2.0
141 -------------------------------------------
143 BEOPEN PYTHON OPEN SOURCE LICENSE AGREEMENT VERSION 1
145 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between BeOpen.com ("BeOpen"), having an
146 office at 160 Saratoga Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051, and the
147 Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using
148 this software in source or binary form and its associated
149 documentation ("the Software").
151 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this BeOpen Python License
152 Agreement, BeOpen hereby grants Licensee a non-exclusive,
153 royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform
154 and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works, distribute, and
155 otherwise use the Software alone or in any derivative version,
156 provided, however, that the BeOpen Python License is retained in the
157 Software, alone or in any derivative version prepared by Licensee.
159 3. BeOpen is making the Software available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
160 basis. BEOPEN MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
161 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, BEOPEN MAKES NO AND
162 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
163 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE WILL NOT
164 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
166 4. BEOPEN SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF THE
167 SOFTWARE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS
168 AS A RESULT OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THE SOFTWARE, OR ANY
169 DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
171 5. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
172 breach of its terms and conditions.
174 6. This License Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in all
175 respects by the law of the State of California, excluding conflict of
176 law provisions. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to
177 create any relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture
178 between BeOpen and Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant
179 permission to use BeOpen trademarks or trade names in a trademark
180 sense to endorse or promote products or services of Licensee, or any
181 third party. As an exception, the "BeOpen Python" logos available at
182 http://www.pythonlabs.com/logos.html may be used according to the
183 permissions granted on that web page.
185 7. By copying, installing or otherwise using the software, Licensee
186 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
190 CNRI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 1.6.1
191 ---------------------------------------
193 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Corporation for National
194 Research Initiatives, having an office at 1895 Preston White Drive,
195 Reston, VA 20191 ("CNRI"), and the Individual or Organization
196 ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using Python 1.6.1 software in
197 source or binary form and its associated documentation.
199 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, CNRI
200 hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
201 license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
202 prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 1.6.1
203 alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that CNRI's
204 License Agreement and CNRI's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
205 1995-2001 Corporation for National Research Initiatives; All Rights
206 Reserved" are retained in Python 1.6.1 alone or in any derivative
207 version prepared by Licensee. Alternately, in lieu of CNRI's License
208 Agreement, Licensee may substitute the following text (omitting the
209 quotes): "Python 1.6.1 is made available subject to the terms and
210 conditions in CNRI's License Agreement. This Agreement together with
211 Python 1.6.1 may be located on the Internet using the following
212 unique, persistent identifier (known as a handle): 1895.22/1013. This
213 Agreement may also be obtained from a proxy server on the Internet
214 using the following URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1895.22/1013".
216 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
217 or incorporates Python 1.6.1 or any part thereof, and wants to make
218 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
219 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
220 the changes made to Python 1.6.1.
222 4. CNRI is making Python 1.6.1 available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
223 basis. CNRI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
224 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, CNRI MAKES NO AND
225 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
226 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 1.6.1 WILL NOT
227 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
229 5. CNRI SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
230 1.6.1 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
231 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 1.6.1,
232 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
234 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
235 breach of its terms and conditions.
237 7. This License Agreement shall be governed by the federal
238 intellectual property law of the United States, including without
239 limitation the federal copyright law, and, to the extent such
240 U.S. federal law does not apply, by the law of the Commonwealth of
241 Virginia, excluding Virginia's conflict of law provisions.
242 Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to derivative works based
243 on Python 1.6.1 that incorporate non-separable material that was
244 previously distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the
245 law of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall govern this License
246 Agreement only as to issues arising under or with respect to
247 Paragraphs 4, 5, and 7 of this License Agreement. Nothing in this
248 License Agreement shall be deemed to create any relationship of
249 agency, partnership, or joint venture between CNRI and Licensee. This
250 License Agreement does not grant permission to use CNRI trademarks or
251 trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote products or
252 services of Licensee, or any third party.
254 8. By clicking on the "ACCEPT" button where indicated, or by copying,
255 installing or otherwise using Python 1.6.1, Licensee agrees to be
256 bound by the terms and conditions of this License Agreement.
261 CWI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 0.9.0 THROUGH 1.2
262 --------------------------------------------------
264 Copyright (c) 1991 - 1995, Stichting Mathematisch Centrum Amsterdam,
265 The Netherlands. All rights reserved.
267 Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
268 documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
269 provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
270 both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
271 supporting documentation, and that the name of Stichting Mathematisch
272 Centrum or CWI not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to
273 distribution of the software without specific, written prior
276 STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO
277 THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
278 FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM BE LIABLE
279 FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
280 WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
281 ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT
282 OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.