Re: [boost] Re: Draft of new Boost Software License

From: Rene Rivera (grafik.list_at_[hidden])
Date: 2003-06-25 21:51:28

[2003-06-25] David Abrahams wrote:

>Rene Rivera <grafik.list_at_[hidden]> writes:
>
>> ~~~~
>> Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person or
organization
>> obtaining a copy of the software covered by this license (the "Software")
>> to: use, reproduce, display, distribute, execute, transmit, 
>
>This part of the list lacks a subject "The Software".
>
>> prepare derivative works of the Software, 
>          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>Which you want to avoid confusing with this.

Then perhaps two separate sentences would make that distinction clear.

>This part of the license has been fairly carefully worked out.  It's
>good to make things read more easily, but they must retain their
>unambiguous meaning.**

I see that all of it was carefully crafted (not being sarcastic, just in
case). I was just trying to portray what I understood. Which, since it is
different than what the Lawyers meant is a problem IMO.

>> and to permit third-parties to whom the Software is furnished to do
>> so, 
>
>I prefer "and to permit others to do so".  This phrase has just been
>approved by the lawyers as legally equivalent, and it's much easier to
>read, so I hope we'll use it.

Shorter is good :-)

>> all subject to the following:
>
>
>
>> The copyright notice in the Software and this entire statement, including
>> the above license grant, this restriction, and the following disclaimer,
>> must be included, in whole or in part, in all copies of the
>> Software, and
>
>That makes it sounds like it's OK to include just part of the
>copyright, license, etc.  Once again my remarks (**) apply here.

Yes I saw, and I thought my later reply pointed that out. But perhaps it
also didn't :-\

I'll say it again more directly... It's good work from the Lawyers.

Being easily understood and still legally accurate are very hard things to
reconcile.

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