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
46 (1) GPL-compatible doesn't mean that we're distributing Python under
47 the GPL. All Python licenses, unlike the GPL, let you distribute
48 a modified version without making your changes open source. The
49 GPL-compatible licenses make it possible to combine Python with
50 other software that is released under the GPL; the others don't.
52 (2) According to Richard Stallman, 1.6.1 is not GPL-compatible,
53 because its license has a choice of law clause. According to
54 CNRI, however, Stallman's lawyer has told CNRI's lawyer that 1.6.1
55 is "not incompatible" with the GPL.
57 Thanks to the many outside volunteers who have worked under Guido's
58 direction to make these releases possible.
61 B. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCESSING OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON
62 ===============================================================
64 PSF LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 2.2
65 ------------------------------------
67 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Python Software Foundation
68 ("PSF"), and the Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and
69 otherwise using Python 2.2 software in source or binary form and its
70 associated documentation.
72 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, PSF
73 hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
74 license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
75 prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 2.2
76 alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that PSF's
77 License Agreement and PSF's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
78 2001, 2002 Python Software Foundation; All Rights Reserved" are
79 retained in Python 2.2 alone or in any derivative version prepared by
82 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
83 or incorporates Python 2.2 or any part thereof, and wants to make
84 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
85 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
86 the changes made to Python 2.2.
88 4. PSF is making Python 2.2 available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
89 basis. PSF MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
90 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, PSF MAKES NO AND
91 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
92 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 2.2 WILL NOT
93 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
95 5. PSF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
96 2.2 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
97 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 2.2,
98 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
100 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
101 breach of its terms and conditions.
103 7. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to create any
104 relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture between PSF and
105 Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant permission to use PSF
106 trademarks or trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote
107 products or services of Licensee, or any third party.
109 8. By copying, installing or otherwise using Python 2.2, Licensee
110 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
114 BEOPEN.COM LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 2.0
115 -------------------------------------------
117 BEOPEN PYTHON OPEN SOURCE LICENSE AGREEMENT VERSION 1
119 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between BeOpen.com ("BeOpen"), having an
120 office at 160 Saratoga Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051, and the
121 Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using
122 this software in source or binary form and its associated
123 documentation ("the Software").
125 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this BeOpen Python License
126 Agreement, BeOpen hereby grants Licensee a non-exclusive,
127 royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform
128 and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works, distribute, and
129 otherwise use the Software alone or in any derivative version,
130 provided, however, that the BeOpen Python License is retained in the
131 Software, alone or in any derivative version prepared by Licensee.
133 3. BeOpen is making the Software available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
134 basis. BEOPEN MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
135 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, BEOPEN MAKES NO AND
136 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
137 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE WILL NOT
138 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
140 4. BEOPEN SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF THE
141 SOFTWARE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS
142 AS A RESULT OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THE SOFTWARE, OR ANY
143 DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
145 5. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
146 breach of its terms and conditions.
148 6. This License Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in all
149 respects by the law of the State of California, excluding conflict of
150 law provisions. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to
151 create any relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture
152 between BeOpen and Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant
153 permission to use BeOpen trademarks or trade names in a trademark
154 sense to endorse or promote products or services of Licensee, or any
155 third party. As an exception, the "BeOpen Python" logos available at
156 http://www.pythonlabs.com/logos.html may be used according to the
157 permissions granted on that web page.
159 7. By copying, installing or otherwise using the software, Licensee
160 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
164 CNRI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 1.6.1
165 ---------------------------------------
167 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Corporation for National
168 Research Initiatives, having an office at 1895 Preston White Drive,
169 Reston, VA 20191 ("CNRI"), and the Individual or Organization
170 ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using Python 1.6.1 software in
171 source or binary form and its associated documentation.
173 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, CNRI
174 hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
175 license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
176 prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 1.6.1
177 alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that CNRI's
178 License Agreement and CNRI's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
179 1995-2001 Corporation for National Research Initiatives; All Rights
180 Reserved" are retained in Python 1.6.1 alone or in any derivative
181 version prepared by Licensee. Alternately, in lieu of CNRI's License
182 Agreement, Licensee may substitute the following text (omitting the
183 quotes): "Python 1.6.1 is made available subject to the terms and
184 conditions in CNRI's License Agreement. This Agreement together with
185 Python 1.6.1 may be located on the Internet using the following
186 unique, persistent identifier (known as a handle): 1895.22/1013. This
187 Agreement may also be obtained from a proxy server on the Internet
188 using the following URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1895.22/1013".
190 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
191 or incorporates Python 1.6.1 or any part thereof, and wants to make
192 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
193 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
194 the changes made to Python 1.6.1.
196 4. CNRI is making Python 1.6.1 available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
197 basis. CNRI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
198 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, CNRI MAKES NO AND
199 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
200 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 1.6.1 WILL NOT
201 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
203 5. CNRI SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
204 1.6.1 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
205 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 1.6.1,
206 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
208 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
209 breach of its terms and conditions.
211 7. This License Agreement shall be governed by the federal
212 intellectual property law of the United States, including without
213 limitation the federal copyright law, and, to the extent such
214 U.S. federal law does not apply, by the law of the Commonwealth of
215 Virginia, excluding Virginia's conflict of law provisions.
216 Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to derivative works based
217 on Python 1.6.1 that incorporate non-separable material that was
218 previously distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the
219 law of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall govern this License
220 Agreement only as to issues arising under or with respect to
221 Paragraphs 4, 5, and 7 of this License Agreement. Nothing in this
222 License Agreement shall be deemed to create any relationship of
223 agency, partnership, or joint venture between CNRI and Licensee. This
224 License Agreement does not grant permission to use CNRI trademarks or
225 trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote products or
226 services of Licensee, or any third party.
228 8. By clicking on the "ACCEPT" button where indicated, or by copying,
229 installing or otherwise using Python 1.6.1, Licensee agrees to be
230 bound by the terms and conditions of this License Agreement.
235 CWI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 0.9.0 THROUGH 1.2
236 --------------------------------------------------
238 Copyright (c) 1991 - 1995, Stichting Mathematisch Centrum Amsterdam,
239 The Netherlands. All rights reserved.
241 Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
242 documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
243 provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
244 both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
245 supporting documentation, and that the name of Stichting Mathematisch
246 Centrum or CWI not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to
247 distribution of the software without specific, written prior
250 STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO
251 THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
252 FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM BE LIABLE
253 FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
254 WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
255 ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT
256 OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.