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 https://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 https://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, which became
17 Zope Corporation. In 2001, the Python Software Foundation (PSF, see
18 https://www.python.org/psf/) was formed, a non-profit organization
19 created specifically to own Python-related Intellectual Property.
20 Zope Corporation was a sponsoring member of the PSF.
22 All Python releases are Open Source (see https://opensource.org for
23 the Open Source Definition). Historically, most, but not all, Python
24 releases have also been GPL-compatible; the table below summarizes
27 Release Derived Year Owner GPL-
30 0.9.0 thru 1.2 1991-1995 CWI yes
31 1.3 thru 1.5.2 1.2 1995-1999 CNRI yes
32 1.6 1.5.2 2000 CNRI no
33 2.0 1.6 2000 BeOpen.com no
34 1.6.1 1.6 2001 CNRI yes (2)
35 2.1 2.0+1.6.1 2001 PSF no
36 2.0.1 2.0+1.6.1 2001 PSF yes
37 2.1.1 2.1+2.0.1 2001 PSF yes
38 2.1.2 2.1.1 2002 PSF yes
39 2.1.3 2.1.2 2002 PSF yes
40 2.2 and above 2.1.1 2001-now PSF yes
44 (1) GPL-compatible doesn't mean that we're distributing Python under
45 the GPL. All Python licenses, unlike the GPL, let you distribute
46 a modified version without making your changes open source. The
47 GPL-compatible licenses make it possible to combine Python with
48 other software that is released under the GPL; the others don't.
50 (2) According to Richard Stallman, 1.6.1 is not GPL-compatible,
51 because its license has a choice of law clause. According to
52 CNRI, however, Stallman's lawyer has told CNRI's lawyer that 1.6.1
53 is "not incompatible" with the GPL.
55 Thanks to the many outside volunteers who have worked under Guido's
56 direction to make these releases possible.
59 B. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCESSING OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON
60 ===============================================================
62 PYTHON SOFTWARE FOUNDATION LICENSE VERSION 2
63 --------------------------------------------
65 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Python Software Foundation
66 ("PSF"), and the Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and
67 otherwise using this software ("Python") in source or binary form and
68 its associated documentation.
70 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, PSF hereby
71 grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce,
72 analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works,
73 distribute, and otherwise use Python alone or in any derivative version,
74 provided, however, that PSF's License Agreement and PSF's notice of copyright,
75 i.e., "Copyright (c) 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010,
76 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Python Software Foundation; All
77 Rights Reserved" are retained in Python alone or in any derivative version
80 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
81 or incorporates Python or any part thereof, and wants to make
82 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
83 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
84 the changes made to Python.
86 4. PSF is making Python available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
87 basis. PSF MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
88 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, PSF MAKES NO AND
89 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
90 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON WILL NOT
91 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
93 5. PSF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
94 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
95 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON,
96 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
98 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
99 breach of its terms and conditions.
101 7. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to create any
102 relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture between PSF and
103 Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant permission to use PSF
104 trademarks or trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote
105 products or services of Licensee, or any third party.
107 8. By copying, installing or otherwise using Python, Licensee
108 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
112 BEOPEN.COM LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 2.0
113 -------------------------------------------
115 BEOPEN PYTHON OPEN SOURCE LICENSE AGREEMENT VERSION 1
117 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between BeOpen.com ("BeOpen"), having an
118 office at 160 Saratoga Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051, and the
119 Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using
120 this software in source or binary form and its associated
121 documentation ("the Software").
123 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this BeOpen Python License
124 Agreement, BeOpen hereby grants Licensee a non-exclusive,
125 royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform
126 and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works, distribute, and
127 otherwise use the Software alone or in any derivative version,
128 provided, however, that the BeOpen Python License is retained in the
129 Software, alone or in any derivative version prepared by Licensee.
131 3. BeOpen is making the Software available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
132 basis. BEOPEN MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
133 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, BEOPEN MAKES NO AND
134 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
135 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE WILL NOT
136 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
138 4. BEOPEN SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF THE
139 SOFTWARE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS
140 AS A RESULT OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THE SOFTWARE, OR ANY
141 DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
143 5. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
144 breach of its terms and conditions.
146 6. This License Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in all
147 respects by the law of the State of California, excluding conflict of
148 law provisions. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to
149 create any relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture
150 between BeOpen and Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant
151 permission to use BeOpen trademarks or trade names in a trademark
152 sense to endorse or promote products or services of Licensee, or any
153 third party. As an exception, the "BeOpen Python" logos available at
154 http://www.pythonlabs.com/logos.html may be used according to the
155 permissions granted on that web page.
157 7. By copying, installing or otherwise using the software, Licensee
158 agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
162 CNRI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 1.6.1
163 ---------------------------------------
165 1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Corporation for National
166 Research Initiatives, having an office at 1895 Preston White Drive,
167 Reston, VA 20191 ("CNRI"), and the Individual or Organization
168 ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using Python 1.6.1 software in
169 source or binary form and its associated documentation.
171 2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, CNRI
172 hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
173 license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
174 prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 1.6.1
175 alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that CNRI's
176 License Agreement and CNRI's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
177 1995-2001 Corporation for National Research Initiatives; All Rights
178 Reserved" are retained in Python 1.6.1 alone or in any derivative
179 version prepared by Licensee. Alternately, in lieu of CNRI's License
180 Agreement, Licensee may substitute the following text (omitting the
181 quotes): "Python 1.6.1 is made available subject to the terms and
182 conditions in CNRI's License Agreement. This Agreement together with
183 Python 1.6.1 may be located on the Internet using the following
184 unique, persistent identifier (known as a handle): 1895.22/1013. This
185 Agreement may also be obtained from a proxy server on the Internet
186 using the following URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1895.22/1013".
188 3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
189 or incorporates Python 1.6.1 or any part thereof, and wants to make
190 the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
191 Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
192 the changes made to Python 1.6.1.
194 4. CNRI is making Python 1.6.1 available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
195 basis. CNRI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
196 IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, CNRI MAKES NO AND
197 DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
198 FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 1.6.1 WILL NOT
199 INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
201 5. CNRI SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
202 1.6.1 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
203 A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 1.6.1,
204 OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
206 6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
207 breach of its terms and conditions.
209 7. This License Agreement shall be governed by the federal
210 intellectual property law of the United States, including without
211 limitation the federal copyright law, and, to the extent such
212 U.S. federal law does not apply, by the law of the Commonwealth of
213 Virginia, excluding Virginia's conflict of law provisions.
214 Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to derivative works based
215 on Python 1.6.1 that incorporate non-separable material that was
216 previously distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the
217 law of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall govern this License
218 Agreement only as to issues arising under or with respect to
219 Paragraphs 4, 5, and 7 of this License Agreement. Nothing in this
220 License Agreement shall be deemed to create any relationship of
221 agency, partnership, or joint venture between CNRI and Licensee. This
222 License Agreement does not grant permission to use CNRI trademarks or
223 trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote products or
224 services of Licensee, or any third party.
226 8. By clicking on the "ACCEPT" button where indicated, or by copying,
227 installing or otherwise using Python 1.6.1, Licensee agrees to be
228 bound by the terms and conditions of this License Agreement.
233 CWI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 0.9.0 THROUGH 1.2
234 --------------------------------------------------
236 Copyright (c) 1991 - 1995, Stichting Mathematisch Centrum Amsterdam,
237 The Netherlands. All rights reserved.
239 Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
240 documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
241 provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
242 both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
243 supporting documentation, and that the name of Stichting Mathematisch
244 Centrum or CWI not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to
245 distribution of the software without specific, written prior
248 STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO
249 THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
250 FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM BE LIABLE
251 FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
252 WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
253 ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT
254 OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.