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