Hi,
I have question about PD's BSD-style license.
Basically the LICENSE.txt file distributed with the PD sources talks about "Redistribution and use in source and binary forms", which applies to "all files associated with the software unless explicitly disclaimed in individual files". However, it isn't explicit about the use of small 'portions' of code, as the GPL is. For example, if I were take a piece of functionality from PD, e.g. the phasor~ code, and use it in another program, what would my obligations be with regard to the BSD license? It would seem inappropriate to reproduce the copyright notice in PD's license verbatim, since using the phrase "This software is copyrighted..." would imply that the copyright notice applied to the entirety of the software, rather than the small snippet taken from the PD sources. Perhaps a prominent phrase along the lines of "This software contains portions of code Copyright Miller Puckette", would be more appropriate? ... but then that would seem not to comply with the BSD...
Is there some kind of accepted practice with this? Advice or experience anyone?
TIA,
Jamie
With the BSD license, I believe the accepted practice is leaving the copyright notice in place on the source files, and including the text of the LICENSE.txt file in the software package that you distribute.
.hc
On Nov 30, 2007, at 8:56 AM, Jamie Bullock wrote:
Hi,
I have question about PD's BSD-style license.
Basically the LICENSE.txt file distributed with the PD sources talks about "Redistribution and use in source and binary forms", which applies to "all files associated with the software unless explicitly disclaimed in individual files". However, it isn't explicit about the use of small 'portions' of code, as the GPL is. For example, if I were take a piece of functionality from PD, e.g. the phasor~ code, and use it in another program, what would my obligations be with regard to the BSD license? It would seem inappropriate to reproduce the copyright notice in PD's license verbatim, since using the phrase "This software is copyrighted..." would imply that the copyright notice applied to the entirety of the software, rather than the small snippet taken from the PD sources. Perhaps a prominent phrase along the lines of "This software contains portions of code Copyright Miller Puckette", would be more appropriate? ... but then that would seem not to comply with the BSD...
Is there some kind of accepted practice with this? Advice or experience anyone?
TIA,
Jamie
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