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 2.4.1 2005 PSF yes
53 2.4.2 2.4.1 2005 PSF yes
54 2.4.3 2.4.2 2006 PSF yes
58 (1) GPL-compatible doesn't mean that we're distributing Python under
59 the GPL. All Python licenses, unlike the GPL, let you distribute
60 a modified version without making your changes open source. The
61 GPL-compatible licenses make it possible to combine Python with
62 other software that is released under the GPL; the others don't.
64 (2) According to Richard Stallman, 1.6.1 is not GPL-compatible,
65 because its license has a choice of law clause. According to
66 CNRI, however, Stallman's lawyer has told CNRI's lawyer that 1.6.1
67 is "not incompatible" with the GPL.
69 Thanks to the many outside volunteers who have worked under Guido's
70 direction to make these releases possible.
73 B. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCESSING OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON
74 ===============================================================
76 PYTHON SOFTWARE FOUNDATION LICENSE VERSION 2
77 --------------------------------------------
79 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Python Software Foundation
80 ("PSF"), and the Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and
81 otherwise using this software ("Python") in source or binary form and
82 its associated documentation.
84 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, PSF
85 hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
86 license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
87 prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python
88 alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that PSF's
89 License Agreement and PSF's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
90 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Python Software Foundation; All Rights
91 Reserved" are retained in Python alone or in any derivative version
94 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
95 or incorporates Python or any part thereof, and wants to make
96 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
97 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
98 the changes made to Python.
100 4. PSF is making Python available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
101 basis. PSF MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
102 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, PSF MAKES NO AND
103 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
104 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON WILL NOT
105 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
107 5. PSF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
108 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
109 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON,
110 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
112 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
113 breach of its terms and conditions.
115 7. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to create any
116 relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture between PSF and
117 Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant permission to use PSF
118 trademarks or trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote
119 products or services of Licensee, or any third party.
121 8. By copying, installing or otherwise using Python, Licensee
122 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
126 BEOPEN.COM LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 2.0
127 -------------------------------------------
129 BEOPEN PYTHON OPEN SOURCE LICENSE AGREEMENT VERSION 1
131 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between BeOpen.com ("BeOpen"), having an
132 office at 160 Saratoga Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051, and the
133 Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using
134 this software in source or binary form and its associated
135 documentation ("the Software").
137 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this BeOpen Python License
138 Agreement, BeOpen hereby grants Licensee a non-exclusive,
139 royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform
140 and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works, distribute, and
141 otherwise use the Software alone or in any derivative version,
142 provided, however, that the BeOpen Python License is retained in the
143 Software, alone or in any derivative version prepared by Licensee.
145 3. BeOpen is making the Software available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
146 basis. BEOPEN MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
147 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, BEOPEN MAKES NO AND
148 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
149 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE WILL NOT
150 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
152 4. BEOPEN SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF THE
153 SOFTWARE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS
154 AS A RESULT OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THE SOFTWARE, OR ANY
155 DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
157 5. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
158 breach of its terms and conditions.
160 6. This License Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in all
161 respects by the law of the State of California, excluding conflict of
162 law provisions. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to
163 create any relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture
164 between BeOpen and Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant
165 permission to use BeOpen trademarks or trade names in a trademark
166 sense to endorse or promote products or services of Licensee, or any
167 third party. As an exception, the "BeOpen Python" logos available at
168 http://www.pythonlabs.com/logos.html may be used according to the
169 permissions granted on that web page.
171 7. By copying, installing or otherwise using the software, Licensee
172 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
176 CNRI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 1.6.1
177 ---------------------------------------
179 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Corporation for National
180 Research Initiatives, having an office at 1895 Preston White Drive,
181 Reston, VA 20191 ("CNRI"), and the Individual or Organization
182 ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using Python 1.6.1 software in
183 source or binary form and its associated documentation.
185 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, CNRI
186 hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
187 license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
188 prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 1.6.1
189 alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that CNRI's
190 License Agreement and CNRI's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
191 1995-2001 Corporation for National Research Initiatives; All Rights
192 Reserved" are retained in Python 1.6.1 alone or in any derivative
193 version prepared by Licensee. Alternately, in lieu of CNRI's License
194 Agreement, Licensee may substitute the following text (omitting the
195 quotes): "Python 1.6.1 is made available subject to the terms and
196 conditions in CNRI's License Agreement. This Agreement together with
197 Python 1.6.1 may be located on the Internet using the following
198 unique, persistent identifier (known as a handle): 1895.22/1013. This
199 Agreement may also be obtained from a proxy server on the Internet
200 using the following URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1895.22/1013".
202 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
203 or incorporates Python 1.6.1 or any part thereof, and wants to make
204 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
205 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
206 the changes made to Python 1.6.1.
208 4. CNRI is making Python 1.6.1 available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
209 basis. CNRI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
210 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, CNRI MAKES NO AND
211 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
212 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 1.6.1 WILL NOT
213 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
215 5. CNRI SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
216 1.6.1 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
217 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 1.6.1,
218 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
220 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
221 breach of its terms and conditions.
223 7. This License Agreement shall be governed by the federal
224 intellectual property law of the United States, including without
225 limitation the federal copyright law, and, to the extent such
226 U.S. federal law does not apply, by the law of the Commonwealth of
227 Virginia, excluding Virginia's conflict of law provisions.
228 Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to derivative works based
229 on Python 1.6.1 that incorporate non-separable material that was
230 previously distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the
231 law of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall govern this License
232 Agreement only as to issues arising under or with respect to
233 Paragraphs 4, 5, and 7 of this License Agreement. Nothing in this
234 License Agreement shall be deemed to create any relationship of
235 agency, partnership, or joint venture between CNRI and Licensee. This
236 License Agreement does not grant permission to use CNRI trademarks or
237 trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote products or
238 services of Licensee, or any third party.
240 8. By clicking on the "ACCEPT" button where indicated, or by copying,
241 installing or otherwise using Python 1.6.1, Licensee agrees to be
242 bound by the terms and conditions of this License Agreement.
247 CWI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 0.9.0 THROUGH 1.2
248 --------------------------------------------------
250 Copyright (c) 1991 - 1995, Stichting Mathematisch Centrum Amsterdam,
251 The Netherlands. All rights reserved.
253 Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
254 documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
255 provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
256 both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
257 supporting documentation, and that the name of Stichting Mathematisch
258 Centrum or CWI not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to
259 distribution of the software without specific, written prior
262 STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO
263 THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
264 FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM BE LIABLE
265 FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
266 WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
267 ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT
268 OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.