[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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