1*a9374b6bSreed$NetBSD: README,v 1.1 2010/04/01 14:13:25 reed Exp $ 2*a9374b6bSreed 3*a9374b6bSreedThe code within the src/external/gplv3 directories may have serious 4*a9374b6bSreedlegal impacts if you are a company and redistributing or changing 5*a9374b6bSreedthis code (as a company holding patents). We recommend you contact 6*a9374b6bSreedyour lawyer before using it. 7*a9374b6bSreed 8*a9374b6bSreedPlease do not import new GPLv3 projects without Board approval. 9*a9374b6bSreed 10*a9374b6bSreed-------------------------------------------------------------------- 11*a9374b6bSreed 12*a9374b6bSreedStatement for The NetBSD Foundation's Position on the GPLv3 13*a9374b6bSreed 14*a9374b6bSreedNetBSD provides source code with the goal for anyone to be able 15*a9374b6bSreedto use it for whatever they want, as long as they follow the simple 16*a9374b6bSreedlicensing terms. Historically, most of the original code used 17*a9374b6bSreedBerkeley-style licensing and NetBSD's own code uses a simple 18*a9374b6bSreedtwo-clause Berkeley-style license. To summarize: modifications are 19*a9374b6bSreedallowed, the source code may be redistributed and the binaries (or 20*a9374b6bSreedexecutables) may be distributed as long as the copyright and 21*a9374b6bSreeddisclaimer is included. NetBSD's code may be extended and sold 22*a9374b6bSreedwithout sharing back the source code changes. 23*a9374b6bSreed 24*a9374b6bSreedNetBSD also uses and redistributes source code and binaries from 25*a9374b6bSreedsource code obtained from external third parties. This source code 26*a9374b6bSreedis segregated by placing it in the src/external and sys/src/external 27*a9374b6bSreeddirectories which are categorized per license. Examples of this 28*a9374b6bSreedinclude: ISC BIND, Solaris ZFS, CVS, GNU Binutils, Postfix, X.org 29*a9374b6bSreedX Windowing System, and other software that are primarily maintained 30*a9374b6bSreedoutside of NetBSD. 31*a9374b6bSreed 32*a9374b6bSreedIn some cases, the third-party software is licensed under terms 33*a9374b6bSreedthat conflict with NetBSD's own goals. For example, the GPLv2 is 34*a9374b6bSreeda "copyleft" license -- it requires that anyone who distributes 35*a9374b6bSreedexecutable or object code based on the source code, also make the 36*a9374b6bSreedsource code and modifications available to the public. (NetBSD's 37*a9374b6bSreedown code doesn't require companies to share their changes.) 38*a9374b6bSreed 39*a9374b6bSreedThe GPLv3 (GNU General Public License Version 3) includes clauses 40*a9374b6bSreedthat may cause additional burdens to developers or companies who 41*a9374b6bSreedmay modify the source code or ship products based on the source 42*a9374b6bSreedcode. The following summarizes some of these issues: 43*a9374b6bSreed 44*a9374b6bSreed- The license allows the user to circumvent measures preventing 45*a9374b6bSreedsoftware changes (#3). This is known as the Tivoization clause. 46*a9374b6bSreedIn addition, this same clause is an anti-DRM, anti-DMCA clause -- 47*a9374b6bSreedas the developer allows the end-user to attempt to circumvent or 48*a9374b6bSreedbreak the technological protection measures. Also, any information 49*a9374b6bSreedor authorization keys required to install or run modified versions 50*a9374b6bSreedmust also be provided (#6). 51*a9374b6bSreed 52*a9374b6bSreed- The patent clause (#11) says the copyright holders grant a 53*a9374b6bSreednon-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free patent license. You may be 54*a9374b6bSreedrequired to extend the royalty-free patent license(s) to all 55*a9374b6bSreedrecipients or future users and developers who use the code. In 56*a9374b6bSreedaddition, you may not initiate litigation for a patent infringement 57*a9374b6bSreed(#10). 58*a9374b6bSreed 59*a9374b6bSreedWe recommend companies redistributing GPLv3 licensed code to 60*a9374b6bSreedconsult their lawyer before using it. 61*a9374b6bSreed 62*a9374b6bSreedIt is the intent of the NetBSD project to use as little GPL licensed 63*a9374b6bSreedsoftware as possible to provide maximum freedom for development 64*a9374b6bSreedand distribution of NetBSD derived products. 65*a9374b6bSreed 66