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Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +00001A. HISTORY OF THE SOFTWARE
2==========================
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +00003
4Python was created in the early 1990s by Guido van Rossum at Stichting
Guido van Rossum7b4dd762001-07-17 20:14:06 +00005Mathematisch Centrum (CWI, see http://www.cwi.nl) in the Netherlands
6as a successor of a language called ABC. Guido remains Python's
7principal author, although it includes many contributions from others.
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +00008
Guido van Rossum7b4dd762001-07-17 20:14:06 +00009In 1995, Guido continued his work on Python at the Corporation for
10National Research Initiatives (CNRI, see http://www.cnri.reston.va.us)
11in Reston, Virginia where he released several versions of the
12software.
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +000013
Guido van Rossum7b4dd762001-07-17 20:14:06 +000014In May 2000, Guido and the Python core development team moved to
15BeOpen.com to form the BeOpen PythonLabs team. In October of the same
Mariatta8474d872017-07-31 11:16:14 -070016year, the PythonLabs team moved to Digital Creations, which became
17Zope Corporation. In 2001, the Python Software Foundation (PSF, see
18https://www.python.org/psf/) was formed, a non-profit organization
19created specifically to own Python-related Intellectual Property.
20Zope Corporation was a sponsoring member of the PSF.
Guido van Rossum7b4dd762001-07-17 20:14:06 +000021
22All Python releases are Open Source (see http://www.opensource.org for
23the Open Source Definition). Historically, most, but not all, Python
24releases have also been GPL-compatible; the table below summarizes
25the various releases.
26
27 Release Derived Year Owner GPL-
Tim Peters7cb13a92004-10-23 03:48:57 +000028 from compatible? (1)
Guido van Rossum7b4dd762001-07-17 20:14:06 +000029
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
Guido van Rossum7df772b2002-04-11 20:54:35 +000034 1.6.1 1.6 2001 CNRI yes (2)
Guido van Rossum7b4dd762001-07-17 20:14:06 +000035 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
Tim Petersb0f3cea2002-04-08 21:36:47 +000038 2.1.2 2.1.1 2002 PSF yes
39 2.1.3 2.1.2 2002 PSF yes
Georg Brandl587b3052013-09-22 11:45:52 +020040 2.2 and above 2.1.1 2001-now PSF yes
Guido van Rossum7b4dd762001-07-17 20:14:06 +000041
42Footnotes:
43
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.
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +000049
Guido van Rossum7df772b2002-04-11 20:54:35 +000050(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.
54
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +000055Thanks to the many outside volunteers who have worked under Guido's
56direction to make these releases possible.
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +000057
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +000058
Guido van Rossumaa815df2001-04-10 03:37:31 +000059B. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCESSING OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON
60===============================================================
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +000061
Todde223d062020-09-03 01:22:36 -040062Python software and documentation are licensed under the
63Python Software Foundation License Version 2.
64
65Starting with Python 3.8.6, examples, recipes, and other code in
66the documentation are dual licensed under the PSF License Version 2
67and the Zero-Clause BSD license.
68
69Some software incorporated into Python is under different licenses.
70The licenses are listed with code falling under that license.
71
72
Tim Petersacaffe62004-10-23 03:43:54 +000073PYTHON SOFTWARE FOUNDATION LICENSE VERSION 2
74--------------------------------------------
Guido van Rossum9ea60c52001-04-13 15:04:00 +000075
761. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Python Software Foundation
77("PSF"), and the Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and
Tim Peterscb919002004-10-26 14:38:48 +000078otherwise using this software ("Python") in source or binary form and
79its associated documentation.
Guido van Rossum9ea60c52001-04-13 15:04:00 +000080
Georg Brandlb1441c72009-01-03 22:33:39 +0000812. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, PSF hereby
82grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce,
83analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works,
84distribute, and otherwise use Python alone or in any derivative version,
85provided, however, that PSF's License Agreement and PSF's notice of copyright,
Georg Brandled138532010-12-31 23:00:03 +000086i.e., "Copyright (c) 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010,
Benjamin Peterson946b29e2020-01-02 18:56:34 -0800872011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Python Software Foundation;
Benjamin Peterson9a69ae82019-01-02 07:46:53 -080088All Rights Reserved" are retained in Python alone or in any derivative version
Benjamin Peterson65f2a6d2018-01-04 22:34:19 -080089prepared by Licensee.
Guido van Rossum9ea60c52001-04-13 15:04:00 +000090
913. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
Tim Petersacaffe62004-10-23 03:43:54 +000092or incorporates Python or any part thereof, and wants to make
Guido van Rossum9ea60c52001-04-13 15:04:00 +000093the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
94Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
Tim Petersacaffe62004-10-23 03:43:54 +000095the changes made to Python.
Guido van Rossum9ea60c52001-04-13 15:04:00 +000096
Tim Petersacaffe62004-10-23 03:43:54 +0000974. PSF is making Python available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
Guido van Rossum9ea60c52001-04-13 15:04:00 +000098basis. PSF MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
99IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, PSF MAKES NO AND
100DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
Tim Petersacaffe62004-10-23 03:43:54 +0000101FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON WILL NOT
Guido van Rossum9ea60c52001-04-13 15:04:00 +0000102INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
103
1045. PSF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
Tim Petersacaffe62004-10-23 03:43:54 +0000105FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
106A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON,
Guido van Rossum9ea60c52001-04-13 15:04:00 +0000107OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
108
1096. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
110breach of its terms and conditions.
111
Guido van Rossum648b4de2001-05-04 18:49:06 +00001127. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to create any
113relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture between PSF and
114Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant permission to use PSF
115trademarks or trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote
116products or services of Licensee, or any third party.
Guido van Rossum9ea60c52001-04-13 15:04:00 +0000117
Tim Petersacaffe62004-10-23 03:43:54 +00001188. By copying, installing or otherwise using Python, Licensee
Guido van Rossum859d9b52001-04-13 19:41:28 +0000119agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
120Agreement.
121
Guido van Rossum575d7f32001-04-13 15:04:31 +0000122
Guido van Rossum7b4dd762001-07-17 20:14:06 +0000123BEOPEN.COM LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 2.0
124-------------------------------------------
Guido van Rossum028d0692000-09-03 03:13:44 +0000125
Guido van Rossum2e0d3312000-09-04 00:58:48 +0000126BEOPEN PYTHON OPEN SOURCE LICENSE AGREEMENT VERSION 1
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +0000127
Guido van Rossum028d0692000-09-03 03:13:44 +00001281. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between BeOpen.com ("BeOpen"), having an
129office at 160 Saratoga Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051, and the
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +0000130Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using
131this software in source or binary form and its associated
132documentation ("the Software").
133
Guido van Rossum028d0692000-09-03 03:13:44 +00001342. Subject to the terms and conditions of this BeOpen Python License
135Agreement, BeOpen hereby grants Licensee a non-exclusive,
136royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform
137and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works, distribute, and
138otherwise use the Software alone or in any derivative version,
139provided, however, that the BeOpen Python License is retained in the
140Software, alone or in any derivative version prepared by Licensee.
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +0000141
Guido van Rossum82271162000-09-05 03:05:07 +00001423. BeOpen is making the Software available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +0000143basis. BEOPEN MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
144IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, BEOPEN MAKES NO AND
145DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
146FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE WILL NOT
147INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
148
Guido van Rossum82271162000-09-05 03:05:07 +00001494. BEOPEN SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF THE
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +0000150SOFTWARE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS
151AS A RESULT OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THE SOFTWARE, OR ANY
152DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
153
Guido van Rossum82271162000-09-05 03:05:07 +00001545. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +0000155breach of its terms and conditions.
156
Guido van Rossum82271162000-09-05 03:05:07 +00001576. This License Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in all
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +0000158respects by the law of the State of California, excluding conflict of
159law provisions. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to
160create any relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture
161between BeOpen and Licensee. This License Agreement does not grant
Guido van Rossumac1c8182000-09-03 13:21:38 +0000162permission to use BeOpen trademarks or trade names in a trademark
163sense to endorse or promote products or services of Licensee, or any
164third party. As an exception, the "BeOpen Python" logos available at
Guido van Rossum028d0692000-09-03 03:13:44 +0000165http://www.pythonlabs.com/logos.html may be used according to the
166permissions granted on that web page.
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +0000167
Guido van Rossum82271162000-09-05 03:05:07 +00001687. By copying, installing or otherwise using the software, Licensee
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +0000169agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
170Agreement.
171
172
Guido van Rossum7b4dd762001-07-17 20:14:06 +0000173CNRI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 1.6.1
174---------------------------------------
Guido van Rossumea761c02000-10-10 14:49:44 +0000175
1761. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Corporation for National
177Research Initiatives, having an office at 1895 Preston White Drive,
178Reston, VA 20191 ("CNRI"), and the Individual or Organization
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +0000179("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using Python 1.6.1 software in
180source or binary form and its associated documentation.
Guido van Rossumea761c02000-10-10 14:49:44 +0000181
1822. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, CNRI
183hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
184license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +0000185prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 1.6.1
Guido van Rossumea761c02000-10-10 14:49:44 +0000186alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that CNRI's
187License Agreement and CNRI's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +00001881995-2001 Corporation for National Research Initiatives; All Rights
189Reserved" are retained in Python 1.6.1 alone or in any derivative
190version prepared by Licensee. Alternately, in lieu of CNRI's License
191Agreement, Licensee may substitute the following text (omitting the
192quotes): "Python 1.6.1 is made available subject to the terms and
193conditions in CNRI's License Agreement. This Agreement together with
194Python 1.6.1 may be located on the Internet using the following
195unique, persistent identifier (known as a handle): 1895.22/1013. This
196Agreement may also be obtained from a proxy server on the Internet
197using the following URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1895.22/1013".
Guido van Rossumea761c02000-10-10 14:49:44 +0000198
1993. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +0000200or incorporates Python 1.6.1 or any part thereof, and wants to make
201the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
202Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
203the changes made to Python 1.6.1.
Guido van Rossumea761c02000-10-10 14:49:44 +0000204
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +00002054. CNRI is making Python 1.6.1 available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
206basis. CNRI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
207IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, CNRI MAKES NO AND
Guido van Rossumea761c02000-10-10 14:49:44 +0000208DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +0000209FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 1.6.1 WILL NOT
Guido van Rossumea761c02000-10-10 14:49:44 +0000210INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
211
2125. CNRI SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +00002131.6.1 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
214A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 1.6.1,
215OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
Guido van Rossumea761c02000-10-10 14:49:44 +0000216
2176. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
218breach of its terms and conditions.
219
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +00002207. This License Agreement shall be governed by the federal
221intellectual property law of the United States, including without
222limitation the federal copyright law, and, to the extent such
223U.S. federal law does not apply, by the law of the Commonwealth of
224Virginia, excluding Virginia's conflict of law provisions.
225Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to derivative works based
226on Python 1.6.1 that incorporate non-separable material that was
227previously distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the
228law of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall govern this License
229Agreement only as to issues arising under or with respect to
230Paragraphs 4, 5, and 7 of this License Agreement. Nothing in this
231License Agreement shall be deemed to create any relationship of
232agency, partnership, or joint venture between CNRI and Licensee. This
233License Agreement does not grant permission to use CNRI trademarks or
234trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote products or
235services of Licensee, or any third party.
Guido van Rossumea761c02000-10-10 14:49:44 +0000236
2378. By clicking on the "ACCEPT" button where indicated, or by copying,
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +0000238installing or otherwise using Python 1.6.1, Licensee agrees to be
239bound by the terms and conditions of this License Agreement.
Guido van Rossumea761c02000-10-10 14:49:44 +0000240
Guido van Rossum3225c1f2001-03-22 15:41:06 +0000241 ACCEPT
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +0000242
243
Guido van Rossum7b4dd762001-07-17 20:14:06 +0000244CWI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 0.9.0 THROUGH 1.2
245--------------------------------------------------
Guido van Rossumea70b492000-09-01 19:51:14 +0000246
247Copyright (c) 1991 - 1995, Stichting Mathematisch Centrum Amsterdam,
248The Netherlands. All rights reserved.
249
250Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
251documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
252provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
253both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
254supporting documentation, and that the name of Stichting Mathematisch
255Centrum or CWI not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to
256distribution of the software without specific, written prior
257permission.
258
259STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO
260THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
261FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM BE LIABLE
262FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
263WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
264ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT
265OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
Todde223d062020-09-03 01:22:36 -0400266
267ZERO-CLAUSE BSD LICENSE FOR CODE IN THE PYTHON DOCUMENTATION
268----------------------------------------------------------------------
269
270Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
271purpose with or without fee is hereby granted.
272
273THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH
274REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
275AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT,
276INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM
277LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR
278OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR
279PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.