Chapter

Appendix D: Software licensing

From InfoTech Governance, Policy, Ethics & Law by David Tuffley

Concepts

1. License Categories

   "An independent software author owns the copyright on the program. This enables the author to regulate the copying, using and adapting of the program. The author must specify conditions of use in a li

2. GNU License

   "Many programs are distributed under standard licenses. The advantage is that everybody knows what is and is not permitted, and after wide usage, the wording is likely to be accurate and legally bindi

3. Licenses

   "The BSD license is very simple and therefore short. Its only condition is that people must mention the name of the author if they incorporate the software in their own programs. All other use and red

4. License

   "An author may write their own license or have a lawyer draft one. It is notoriously difficult to anticipate all possible circumstances under which people will want to use and/or distribute the progra