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