[TUHS] Thoughts on Licenses

Jay Logue via TUHS tuhs at tuhs.org
Mon Jul 4 07:38:46 AEST 2022


I think it makes sense to place standalone documents like the Caldera 
license in a central location.  However I don't see a lot of value in 
placing copies of non-standalone license/copyright notices in a place 
other than their original locations, because all these texts have 
context ("/This /software is copyright ...."), which I think is 
important both historically and practically.

Perhaps it would be better to create an index of license/copyright 
notices that appear in the source tree, including pointers to their 
containing files. Extra points for an historical analysis of the 
evolution/commonality of license texts as they appear over time and 
across Unix versions.

--Jay

On 7/2/2022 11:15 AM, Clem Cole wrote:
> As part of some of simh work, I've been immersed in some licensing 
> discussions.  Thanks for the V8-10, Plan-9 and Inferno notes - they 
> are relevant.
>
> Anyway, WRT to TUHS, I'm thinking that at least in the case of the 
> Unix style bits, I propose a small change to Waren's top-level 
> directory.   Add a new dir called something like 'Legal Docs' or 
> 'Copyrights+Licenses'.   Then move the Caldera document and Warren's 
> current note into that area.  Then add copies of anything we can 
> collect like the Dan Cross's V8-10, anything WRT to Plan9/Inferno or 
> anything we from the UNIX world - such as something Sun, DEC or HP or 
> like might have added.  Maybe add a subdirectory with the AT&T/USL 
> case details.   And maybe add a sub-directory with known FOSS licenses 
> used by the UNIX community and add a copy of the 3-clause BSD and 
> maybe even the two GPLs.
>
> Then update the README in the current top-level dir.   Adding to the 
> contents something like "/the IP contained on this website is covered 
> by different licenses depending on the specific IP.  Copies of these 
> can be found with the source code itself, but have also been all 
> collected together in the top-level directory: .../."
>
> I think these all have both historical values, as well as practical 
> values. As I said, I was not sure myself and I think other would be 
> less ignorant if they could find it all easily.   In the case of the 
> practical, a for instance, in an email with some lawyers last week, I 
> had pointed them at the Caldera document.  I'ld have loved to have 
> been able to say look in this directory.  The Caldera and later 
> Nokia Licenses are what we are considering as examples.
>
> Thoughts?
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