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
53 (1) GPL-compatible doesn't mean that we're distributing Python under
54 the GPL. All Python licenses, unlike the GPL, let you distribute
55 a modified version without making your changes open source. The
56 GPL-compatible licenses make it possible to combine Python with
57 other software that is released under the GPL; the others don't.
59 (2) According to Richard Stallman, 1.6.1 is not GPL-compatible,
60 because its license has a choice of law clause. According to
61 CNRI, however, Stallman's lawyer has told CNRI's lawyer that 1.6.1
62 is "not incompatible" with the GPL.
64 Thanks to the many outside volunteers who have worked under Guido's
65 direction to make these releases possible.
68 B. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCESSING OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON
69 ===============================================================
71 PSF LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 2.3
72 ------------------------------------
74 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Python Software Foundation
75 ("PSF"), and the Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and
76 otherwise using Python 2.3 software in source or binary form and its
77 associated documentation.
79 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, PSF
80 hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
81 license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
82 prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 2.3
83 alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that PSF's
84 License Agreement and PSF's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
85 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Python Software Foundation; All Rights Reserved" are
86 retained in Python 2.3 alone or in any derivative version prepared by
89 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
90 or incorporates Python 2.3 or any part thereof, and wants to make
91 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
92 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
93 the changes made to Python 2.3.
95 4. PSF is making Python 2.3 available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
96 basis. PSF MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
97 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, PSF MAKES NO AND
98 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
99 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 2.3 WILL NOT
100 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
102 5. PSF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
103 2.3 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
104 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 2.3,
105 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
107 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
108 breach of its terms and conditions.
110 7. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to create any
111 relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture between PSF and
112 Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant permission to use PSF
113 trademarks or trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote
114 products or services of Licensee, or any third party.
116 8. By copying, installing or otherwise using Python 2.3, Licensee
117 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
121 BEOPEN.COM LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 2.0
122 -------------------------------------------
124 BEOPEN PYTHON OPEN SOURCE LICENSE AGREEMENT VERSION 1
126 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between BeOpen.com ("BeOpen"), having an
127 office at 160 Saratoga Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051, and the
128 Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using
129 this software in source or binary form and its associated
130 documentation ("the Software").
132 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this BeOpen Python License
133 Agreement, BeOpen hereby grants Licensee a non-exclusive,
134 royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform
135 and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works, distribute, and
136 otherwise use the Software alone or in any derivative version,
137 provided, however, that the BeOpen Python License is retained in the
138 Software, alone or in any derivative version prepared by Licensee.
140 3. BeOpen is making the Software available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
141 basis. BEOPEN MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
142 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, BEOPEN MAKES NO AND
143 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
144 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE WILL NOT
145 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
147 4. BEOPEN SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF THE
148 SOFTWARE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS
149 AS A RESULT OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THE SOFTWARE, OR ANY
150 DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
152 5. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
153 breach of its terms and conditions.
155 6. This License Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in all
156 respects by the law of the State of California, excluding conflict of
157 law provisions. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to
158 create any relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture
159 between BeOpen and Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant
160 permission to use BeOpen trademarks or trade names in a trademark
161 sense to endorse or promote products or services of Licensee, or any
162 third party. As an exception, the "BeOpen Python" logos available at
163 http://www.pythonlabs.com/logos.html may be used according to the
164 permissions granted on that web page.
166 7. By copying, installing or otherwise using the software, Licensee
167 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
171 CNRI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 1.6.1
172 ---------------------------------------
174 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Corporation for National
175 Research Initiatives, having an office at 1895 Preston White Drive,
176 Reston, VA 20191 ("CNRI"), and the Individual or Organization
177 ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using Python 1.6.1 software in
178 source or binary form and its associated documentation.
180 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, CNRI
181 hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
182 license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
183 prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 1.6.1
184 alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that CNRI's
185 License Agreement and CNRI's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
186 1995-2001 Corporation for National Research Initiatives; All Rights
187 Reserved" are retained in Python 1.6.1 alone or in any derivative
188 version prepared by Licensee. Alternately, in lieu of CNRI's License
189 Agreement, Licensee may substitute the following text (omitting the
190 quotes): "Python 1.6.1 is made available subject to the terms and
191 conditions in CNRI's License Agreement. This Agreement together with
192 Python 1.6.1 may be located on the Internet using the following
193 unique, persistent identifier (known as a handle): 1895.22/1013. This
194 Agreement may also be obtained from a proxy server on the Internet
195 using the following URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1895.22/1013".
197 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
198 or incorporates Python 1.6.1 or any part thereof, and wants to make
199 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
200 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
201 the changes made to Python 1.6.1.
203 4. CNRI is making Python 1.6.1 available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
204 basis. CNRI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
205 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, CNRI MAKES NO AND
206 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
207 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 1.6.1 WILL NOT
208 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
210 5. CNRI SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
211 1.6.1 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
212 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 1.6.1,
213 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
215 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
216 breach of its terms and conditions.
218 7. This License Agreement shall be governed by the federal
219 intellectual property law of the United States, including without
220 limitation the federal copyright law, and, to the extent such
221 U.S. federal law does not apply, by the law of the Commonwealth of
222 Virginia, excluding Virginia's conflict of law provisions.
223 Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to derivative works based
224 on Python 1.6.1 that incorporate non-separable material that was
225 previously distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the
226 law of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall govern this License
227 Agreement only as to issues arising under or with respect to
228 Paragraphs 4, 5, and 7 of this License Agreement. Nothing in this
229 License Agreement shall be deemed to create any relationship of
230 agency, partnership, or joint venture between CNRI and Licensee. This
231 License Agreement does not grant permission to use CNRI trademarks or
232 trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote products or
233 services of Licensee, or any third party.
235 8. By clicking on the "ACCEPT" button where indicated, or by copying,
236 installing or otherwise using Python 1.6.1, Licensee agrees to be
237 bound by the terms and conditions of this License Agreement.
242 CWI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 0.9.0 THROUGH 1.2
243 --------------------------------------------------
245 Copyright (c) 1991 - 1995, Stichting Mathematisch Centrum Amsterdam,
246 The Netherlands. All rights reserved.
248 Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
249 documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
250 provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
251 both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
252 supporting documentation, and that the name of Stichting Mathematisch
253 Centrum or CWI not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to
254 distribution of the software without specific, written prior
257 STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO
258 THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
259 FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM BE LIABLE
260 FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
261 WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
262 ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT
263 OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.