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| 1 | NOTES ON COPYRIGHTS AND LICENSES | ||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | Some terminology: | ||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | A "copyright notice" consists of one or a few lines of this format: | ||
| 6 | "Copyright (C) 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc." | ||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | A "license notice" is a statement of permissions, and is usually much | ||
| 9 | longer, eg the text "GNU Emacs is free software...". | ||
| 10 | |||
| 11 | |||
| 12 | Every non-trivial file distributed through the Emacs CVS should be | ||
| 13 | self-explanatory in terms of copyright and license. This includes | ||
| 14 | files that are not distributed in Emacs releases (for example, the | ||
| 15 | admin/ directory), because the whole Emacs CVS is publicly | ||
| 16 | available. | ||
| 17 | |||
| 18 | The definition of triviality is a little vague, but a rule of thumb is | ||
| 19 | that any file with less than 15 lines of actual content is trivial. If | ||
| 20 | a file is auto-generated (eg ldefs-boot.el) from another one in the | ||
| 21 | CVS, then it does not really matter about adding a copyright statement | ||
| 22 | to the generated file. | ||
| 23 | |||
| 24 | The years in the copyright notice should be updated every year (see | ||
| 25 | file "years" in this directory). The PS versions of refcards etc | ||
| 26 | should display copyright notices (an exception to the rule about | ||
| 27 | "generated" files), but these can just display the latest year. The | ||
| 28 | full list of years should be kept in comments in the source file. If | ||
| 29 | these are distributed in CVS, check in a regenerated version when the | ||
| 30 | tex files are updated. | ||
| 31 | |||
| 32 | Copyright changes should be propagated to any associated repositories | ||
| 33 | (eg Gnus, MH-E), but I think in every case this happens automatically | ||
| 34 | (?). | ||
| 35 | |||
| 36 | All README (and other such text files) that are non-trivial and were | ||
| 37 | added by Emacs developers need copyright and copying permission | ||
| 38 | statements (see eg INSTALL in the top-level directory). | ||
| 39 | |||
| 40 | All images files that allow for comments should have copyright and | ||
| 41 | license statements. Whether or not this is possible, the information | ||
| 42 | should be recorded in a README file in each directory with images. | ||
| 43 | |||
| 44 | When installing a file with an "unusual" license (after checking first | ||
| 45 | it is ok), put a copy of the copyright and license in the file (if | ||
| 46 | possible. It's ok if this makes the file incompatible with its | ||
| 47 | original format, if it can still be used by Emacs), or in a README | ||
| 48 | file in the relevant directory. | ||
| 49 | |||
| 50 | The vast majority of files are copyright FSF and distributed under the | ||
| 51 | GPL. A few files (mainly related to language and charset support) are | ||
| 52 | copyright AIST alone, or both AIST and FSF. (Contact Kenichi Handa | ||
| 53 | with questions about legal issues in such files.) In all these cases, | ||
| 54 | the copyright years in each file should be updated each year. | ||
| 55 | |||
| 56 | There are some exceptions to the points in the previous paragraph, and | ||
| 57 | these are listed below for reference, together with any files where | ||
| 58 | the copyright needs to be updated in "unusual" ways. | ||
| 59 | |||
| 60 | If you find any other such cases, please consult to check they are ok, | ||
| 61 | and note them in this file. This includes missing copyright notices, | ||
| 62 | and "odd" copyright holders. In most cases, individual authors should | ||
| 63 | not appear in copyright statements. Either the copyright has been | ||
| 64 | assigned (check copyright.list) to the FSF (in which case the original | ||
| 65 | author should be removed and the year(s) transferred to the FSF); or | ||
| 66 | else it is possible the file should not be in Emacs at all (please | ||
| 67 | report!). | ||
| 68 | |||
| 69 | [For reference, most of these points were established via email with | ||
| 70 | rms, 2007/1, "Copyright years".] | ||
| 71 | |||
| 72 | |||
| 73 | <top-level>/install-sh | ||
| 74 | lispintro/install-sh | ||
| 75 | - this file is copyright MIT, which is OK. Leave the copyright alone. | ||
| 76 | |||
| 77 | etc/edt-user.doc | ||
| 78 | - update BOTH notices in this file | ||
| 79 | |||
| 80 | [etc/orgcard.tex, orgcard.ps - files removed 2007/1/29] | ||
| 81 | - with no assignment from Rooke, these files were removed. We are | ||
| 82 | asking for an assignment, and if one is received the files will be | ||
| 83 | replaced. | ||
| 84 | |||
| 85 | leim/CXTERM-DIC/4Corner.tit, ARRAY30.tit, CCDOSPY.tit, ECDICT.tit, | ||
| 86 | ETZY.tit, PY-b5.tit, Punct-b5.tit, Punct.tit, QJ-b5.tit, QJ.tit, | ||
| 87 | SW.tit, TONEPY.tit, ZOZY.tit | ||
| 88 | - leave the copyrights alone. | ||
| 89 | |||
| 90 | leim/MISC-DIC/CTLau-b5.html, CTLau.html, cangjie-table.b5, cangjie-table.cns, | ||
| 91 | pinyin.map, ziranma.cin | ||
| 92 | - leave the copyright alone. | ||
| 93 | |||
| 94 | leim/SKK-DIC/SKK-JISYO.L | ||
| 95 | ja-dic/ja-dic.el | ||
| 96 | (the latter is auto-generated from the former). Leave the copyright alone. | ||
| 97 | |||
| 98 | lib-src/etags.c | ||
| 99 | - this has a copyright Ken Arnold. We are still deciding what should | ||
| 100 | be done here (see below). | ||
| 101 | |||
| 102 | lib-src/getopt1.c, getopt_int.h | ||
| 103 | - these are from the GNU C library. Leave the copyrights alone. | ||
| 104 | |||
| 105 | lisp/play/tetris.el | ||
| 106 | - no special rules about the copyright. We note here that we believe | ||
| 107 | (2007/1) there is no problem with our use of the name "tetris" or | ||
| 108 | the concept. | ||
| 109 | rms: "My understanding is that game rules as such are not copyrightable." | ||
| 110 | <http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2007-01/msg00960.html> | ||
| 111 | |||
| 112 | lispref/doclicense.texi | ||
| 113 | man/doclicense.texi | ||
| 114 | - leave the copyright alone in this imported file. | ||
| 115 | |||
| 116 | lisp/net/tramp.el | ||
| 117 | - there are also copyrights in the body of the file. Update these too. | ||
| 118 | |||
| 119 | msdos/is_exec.c, sigaction.c | ||
| 120 | - these files are copyright DJ Delorie. Leave the copyrights alone. | ||
| 121 | |||
| 122 | src/gmalloc.c | ||
| 123 | - contains numerous copyrights from the GNU C library. Leave them alone. | ||
| 124 | |||
| 125 | [src/unexhp9k800.c - removed 2007/1/27 | ||
| 126 | [src/m/sr2k.h - removed 2007/1/27] | ||
| 127 | - First file removed due to legal uncertainties; second file removed | ||
| 128 | due to dependency on first. Note that src/m/hp800.h is still needed on | ||
| 129 | hp800 arch. | ||
| 130 | |||
| 131 | |||
| 132 | *** These are copyright issues still to be addressed: | ||
| 133 | |||
| 134 | |||
| 135 | Is it OK to just `cvs remove' a file for legal reasons, or is | ||
| 136 | something more drastic needed? A removed file is still available from | ||
| 137 | CVS, if suitable options are applied. | ||
| 138 | |||
| 139 | |||
| 140 | All README (and other such files) that are non-trivial and were added | ||
| 141 | by Emacs developers need copyright statements and copying permissions | ||
| 142 | to be added. | ||
| 143 | |||
| 144 | |||
| 145 | All images files that allow for comments should have copyright and | ||
| 146 | license statements added. Whether or not this is possible, the | ||
| 147 | information should be recorded in a README file in each directory with | ||
| 148 | images. Image files to consider (is there such a thing as a "trivial" | ||
| 149 | image?): | ||
| 150 | src/bitmaps/ | ||
| 151 | etc/*.xpm, *.xbm | ||
| 152 | etc/images/ | ||
| 153 | etc/tree-widget/ | ||
| 154 | etc/*.ps, .eps | ||
| 155 | |||
| 156 | |||
| 157 | admin/check-doc-strings | ||
| 158 | Author is Martin Buchholz, but no assignment from him on file, and | ||
| 159 | rms has no way to reach him. | ||
| 160 | admin/make-announcement - no copyright | ||
| 161 | admin/nt/makedist.bat - no copyright | ||
| 162 | etc/ms-kermit - no copyright, but ms-7bkermit has one | ||
| 163 | etc/e/eterm-color.ti - no copyright | ||
| 164 | rms: "I think that is not copyrightable under the merger doctrine | ||
| 165 | because the entries are all forced. At least that is the case in the | ||
| 166 | US; I am not sure whether we can rely on that in general." | ||
| 167 | |||
| 168 | For the above files, mail sent from rms to Matthew (Martin?) Norwood | ||
| 169 | asking what to do (via Eben Moglen), 2007/1/22 ("Copyright years"). | ||
| 170 | |||
| 171 | |||
| 172 | etc/gnus-refcard.tex | ||
| 173 | I (rgm) think the "Gnus Bugfixing Girls + Boys" copyright should | ||
| 174 | probably be removed, but it may be ok (waiting for rms) | ||
| 175 | |||
| 176 | |||
| 177 | [etc/orgcard.tex, orgcard.ps] | ||
| 178 | Re-add these files if an assignment is received from Rooke. | ||
| 179 | |||
| 180 | |||
| 181 | etc/sk-refcard.ps, pl-refcard.ps, cs-refcard.ps | ||
| 182 | These refcards need to be regenerated (by those with suitable TeX | ||
| 183 | setups) to get updated copyrights. | ||
| 184 | |||
| 185 | |||
| 186 | lib-src/etags.c - no 'k.* arnold' in copyright.list' | ||
| 187 | rms: "That is ok, in principle. I used free code released by Ken | ||
| 188 | Arnold as the starting point. However, it may be that we need to get | ||
| 189 | and insert whatever his license was for his code." | ||
| 190 | |||
| 191 | |||
| 192 | lispref/back.texi, elisp-covers.texi, lay-flat.texi, | ||
| 193 | two-volume-cross-refs.txt, two.el | ||
| 194 | - add standard notices to any decided to be non-trivial. | ||
| 195 | |||
| 196 | |||
| 197 | lwlib/lwlib-int.h, lwlib.h - no copyright | ||
| 198 | lwlib/Makefile.in, lwlib-utils.c, lwlib.c - copyright Lucid | ||
| 199 | lwlib/lwlib-Xaw.c - copyright Chuck Thompson | ||
| 200 | lwlib/lwlib.c - copyright Lucid, but FSF copyright was added in 2002 - | ||
| 201 | was that correct? | ||
| 202 | rms: "I asked Matthew Norwood about these, I believe." | ||
| 203 | |||
| 204 | |||
| 205 | man/back.texi, trampver.texi | ||
| 206 | - add standard notices to any decided to be non-trivial. | ||
| 207 | |||
| 208 | |||
| 209 | msdos/ | ||
| 210 | - do we need to add COPYING.LIB (because COPYING.DJ refers to it)? | ||
| 211 | (but see below). | ||
| 212 | |||
| 213 | |||
| 214 | msdos/is_exec.c | ||
| 215 | - does copying.dj replace eliz's copyright? | ||
| 216 | |||
| 217 | |||
| 218 | msdos/is_exec.c, sigaction.c | ||
| 219 | - relicense under the GPL | ||
| 220 | |||
| 221 | |||
| 222 | oldXMenu/ | ||
| 223 | - should there be any FSF copyrights at all in here? Some were added | ||
| 224 | in 2005, without licence notices. Was this right? | ||
| 225 | oldXMenu/Makefile.in, Makefile, Imakefile, descrip.mms, insque.c | ||
| 226 | - issues described in mail to rms, 2006/12/17. | ||
| 227 | rms: "I have asked for lawyer's advice about these." | ||
| 228 | |||
| 229 | |||
| 230 | src/acldef.h, chpdef.h, gnu.h, ndir.h | ||
| 231 | src/m/mips4.h, news-r6.h, news-risc.h, pmax.h | ||
| 232 | src/s/aix3-2.h, bsd386.h, hpux8.h, hpux9.h, irix4-0.h, irix5-0.h, | ||
| 233 | isc2-2.h, netbsd.h, osf1.h, sol2-3.h, sunos4-0.h, umips.h, usg5-4-2.h | ||
| 234 | - all these (not obviously trivial) files are missing copyrights. | ||
| 235 | rms: "I should talk about these with Matthew Norwood." | ||