[Python-Dev] BeOpen statement about Python license (original) (raw)

Guido van Rossum guido@beopen.com
Tue, 01 Aug 2000 23:42:30 -0500

Bob Weiner, BeOpen's CTO, has this to say about the Python license:

Here's the official word from BeOpen.com regarding any potential license change on Python 1.6 (the last CNRI Python release) and subsequent versions:

The Python license is fully open source compliant, as certified by
the Open Source Initiative.  That means that if you look at
www.opensource.org/osd.html, then this license complies with those
9 precepts, allowing broad freedom of use, distribution and
modification.

The Python license will continue to allow fully proprietary
software development.

The license issues are down to one point which we are working to
resolve together with CNRI and involving potential
GPL-compatibility.  It is a small point regarding a requirement
that the license be interpreted under the terms of Virginia law.
One lawyer has said that this doesn't affect GPL-compatibility but
Richard Stallman of the FSF has felt differently; he views it as a
potential additional restriction of rights beyond those listed in
the GPL.  So work continues to resolve on this point before the
license is published or attached to any code.  We are presently
waiting for follow-up from Stallman on this point.

In summary, BeOpen.com is actively working to keep Python the extremely open platform it has traditionally been and to resolve legal issues such as this in ways that benefit Python users worldwide. CNRI is working along the same lines as well.

Please assure yourselves and your management that Python continues to allow for both open and closed software development.

Regards,

Bob Weiner

I (Guido) hope that this, together with the draft license text that I just posted, clarifies matters for now! I'll post more news as it happens,

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.pythonlabs.com/~guido/)