diff -r 000000000000 -r 902822492a68 licenses/lgpl.html --- /dev/null Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000 +++ b/licenses/lgpl.html Wed Jun 13 16:03:00 2007 -0400 @@ -0,0 +1,646 @@ + + + +GNU Lesser General Public License + + + + + +
+ +

GNU Lesser General Public License

+ + + +

Version 2.1, February 1999

+ +
+Copyright (C) 1991, 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies
+of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
+
+[This is the first released version of the Lesser GPL.  It also counts
+ as the successor of the GNU Library Public License, version 2, hence
+ the version number 2.1.]
+
+ +

Preamble

+ +

The licenses for most software are designed to take away your +freedom to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General +Public Licenses are intended to guarantee your freedom to share +and change free software--to make sure the software is free for +all its users.

+ +

This license, the Lesser General Public License, applies to +some specially designated software packages--typically +libraries--of the Free Software Foundation and other authors who +decide to use it. You can use it too, but we suggest you first +think carefully about whether this license or the ordinary +General Public License is the better strategy to use in any +particular case, based on the explanations below.

+ +

When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom of +use, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make +sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free +software (and charge for this service if you wish); that you +receive source code or can get it if you want it; that you can +change the software and use pieces of it in new free programs; +and that you are informed that you can do these things.

+ +

To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that +forbid distributors to deny you these rights or to ask you to +surrender these rights. These restrictions translate to certain +responsibilities for you if you distribute copies of the library +or if you modify it.

+ +

For example, if you distribute copies of the library, whether +gratis or for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights +that we gave you. You must make sure that they, too, receive or +can get the source code. If you link other code with the library, +you must provide complete object files to the recipients, so that +they can relink them with the library after making changes to the +library and recompiling it. And you must show them these terms so +they know their rights.

+ +

We protect your rights with a two-step method: (1) we +copyright the library, and (2) we offer you this license, which +gives you legal permission to copy, distribute and/or modify the +library.

+ +

To protect each distributor, we want to make it very clear +that there is no warranty for the free library. Also, if the +library is modified by someone else and passed on, the recipients +should know that what they have is not the original version, so +that the original author's reputation will not be affected by +problems that might be introduced by others.

+ +

Finally, software patents pose a constant threat to the +existence of any free program. We wish to make sure that a +company cannot effectively restrict the users of a free program +by obtaining a restrictive license from a patent holder. +Therefore, we insist that any patent license obtained for a +version of the library must be consistent with the full freedom +of use specified in this license.

+ +

Most GNU software, including some libraries, is covered by the +ordinary GNU General Public License. This license, the GNU Lesser +General Public License, applies to certain designated libraries, +and is quite different from the ordinary General Public License. +We use this license for certain libraries in order to permit +linking those libraries into non-free programs.

+ +

When a program is linked with a library, whether statically or +using a shared library, the combination of the two is legally +speaking a combined work, a derivative of the original library. +The ordinary General Public License therefore permits such +linking only if the entire combination fits its criteria of +freedom. The Lesser General Public License permits more lax +criteria for linking other code with the library.

+ +

We call this license the "Lesser" General Public License +because it does Less to protect the user's freedom than the +ordinary General Public License. It also provides other free +software developers Less of an advantage over competing non-free +programs. These disadvantages are the reason we use the ordinary +General Public License for many libraries. However, the Lesser +license provides advantages in certain special circumstances.

+ +

For example, on rare occasions, there may be a special need to +encourage the widest possible use of a certain library, so that +it becomes a de-facto standard. To achieve this, non-free +programs must be allowed to use the library. A more frequent case +is that a free library does the same job as widely used non-free +libraries. In this case, there is little to gain by limiting the +free library to free software only, so we use the Lesser General +Public License.

+ +

In other cases, permission to use a particular library in +non-free programs enables a greater number of people to use a +large body of free software. For example, permission to use the +GNU C Library in non-free programs enables many more people to +use the whole GNU operating system, as well as its variant, the +GNU/Linux operating system.

+ +

Although the Lesser General Public License is Less protective +of the users' freedom, it does ensure that the user of a program +that is linked with the Library has the freedom and the +wherewithal to run that program using a modified version of the +Library.

+ +

The precise terms and conditions for copying, distribution and +modification follow. Pay close attention to the difference +between a "work based on the library" and a "work that uses the +library". The former contains code derived from the library, +whereas the latter must be combined with the library in order to +run.

+ +

Terms and conditions for copying, distribution and modification

+ +

0. This License Agreement applies to any software +library or other program which contains a notice placed by the +copyright holder or other authorized party saying it may be +distributed under the terms of this Lesser General Public License +(also called "this License"). Each licensee is addressed as +"you".

+ +

A "library" means a collection of software functions and/or +data prepared so as to be conveniently linked with application +programs (which use some of those functions and data) to form +executables.

+ +

The "Library", below, refers to any such software library or +work which has been distributed under these terms. A "work based +on the Library" means either the Library or any derivative work +under copyright law: that is to say, a work containing the +Library or a portion of it, either verbatim or with modifications +and/or translated straightforwardly into another language. +(Hereinafter, translation is included without limitation in the +term "modification".)

+ +

"Source code" for a work means the preferred form of the work +for making modifications to it. For a library, complete source +code means all the source code for all modules it contains, plus +any associated interface definition files, plus the scripts used +to control compilation and installation of the library.

+ +

Activities other than copying, distribution and modification +are not covered by this License; they are outside its scope. The +act of running a program using the Library is not restricted, and +output from such a program is covered only if its contents +constitute a work based on the Library (independent of the use of +the Library in a tool for writing it). Whether that is true +depends on what the Library does and what the program that uses +the Library does.

+ +

1. You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the +Library's complete source code as you receive it, in any medium, +provided that you conspicuously and appropriately publish on each +copy an appropriate copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; +keep intact all the notices that refer to this License and to the +absence of any warranty; and distribute a copy of this License +along with the Library.

+ +

You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a +copy, and you may at your option offer warranty protection in +exchange for a fee.

+ +

2. You may modify your copy or copies of the Library or +any portion of it, thus forming a work based on the Library, and +copy and distribute such modifications or work under the terms of +Section 1 above, provided that you also meet all of these +conditions:

+ + + +

3. You may opt to apply the terms of the ordinary GNU +General Public License instead of this License to a given copy of +the Library. To do this, you must alter all the notices that +refer to this License, so that they refer to the ordinary GNU +General Public License, version 2, instead of to this License. +(If a newer version than version 2 of the ordinary GNU General +Public License has appeared, then you can specify that version +instead if you wish.) Do not make any other change in these +notices.

+ +

Once this change is made in a given copy, it is irreversible +for that copy, so the ordinary GNU General Public License applies +to all subsequent copies and derivative works made from that +copy.

+ +

This option is useful when you wish to copy part of the code +of the Library into a program that is not a library.

+ +

4. You may copy and distribute the Library (or a +portion or derivative of it, under Section 2) in object code or +executable form under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above +provided that you accompany it with the complete corresponding +machine-readable source code, which must be distributed under the +terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for +software interchange.

+ +

If distribution of object code is made by offering access to +copy from a designated place, then offering equivalent access to +copy the source code from the same place satisfies the +requirement to distribute the source code, even though third +parties are not compelled to copy the source along with the +object code.

+ +

5. A program that contains no derivative of any portion +of the Library, but is designed to work with the Library by being +compiled or linked with it, is called a "work that uses the +Library". Such a work, in isolation, is not a derivative work of +the Library, and therefore falls outside the scope of this +License.

+ +

However, linking a "work that uses the Library" with the +Library creates an executable that is a derivative of the Library +(because it contains portions of the Library), rather than a +"work that uses the library". The executable is therefore covered +by this License. Section 6 states terms for distribution of such +executables.

+ +

When a "work that uses the Library" uses material from a +header file that is part of the Library, the object code for the +work may be a derivative work of the Library even though the +source code is not. Whether this is true is especially +significant if the work can be linked without the Library, or if +the work is itself a library. The threshold for this to be true +is not precisely defined by law.

+ +

If such an object file uses only numerical parameters, data +structure layouts and accessors, and small macros and small +inline functions (ten lines or less in length), then the use of +the object file is unrestricted, regardless of whether it is +legally a derivative work. (Executables containing this object +code plus portions of the Library will still fall under Section +6.)

+ +

Otherwise, if the work is a derivative of the Library, you may +distribute the object code for the work under the terms of +Section 6. Any executables containing that work also fall under +Section 6, whether or not they are linked directly with the +Library itself.

+ +

6. As an exception to the Sections above, you may also +combine or link a "work that uses the Library" with the Library +to produce a work containing portions of the Library, and +distribute that work under terms of your choice, provided that +the terms permit modification of the work for the customer's own +use and reverse engineering for debugging such modifications.

+ +

You must give prominent notice with each copy of the work that +the Library is used in it and that the Library and its use are +covered by this License. You must supply a copy of this License. +If the work during execution displays copyright notices, you must +include the copyright notice for the Library among them, as well +as a reference directing the user to the copy of this License. +Also, you must do one of these things:

+ + + +

For an executable, the required form of the "work that uses +the Library" must include any data and utility programs needed +for reproducing the executable from it. However, as a special +exception, the materials to be distributed need not include +anything that is normally distributed (in either source or binary +form) with the major components (compiler, kernel, and so on) of +the operating system on which the executable runs, unless that +component itself accompanies the executable.

+ +

It may happen that this requirement contradicts the license +restrictions of other proprietary libraries that do not normally +accompany the operating system. Such a contradiction means you +cannot use both them and the Library together in an executable +that you distribute.

+ +

7. You may place library facilities that are a work +based on the Library side-by-side in a single library together +with other library facilities not covered by this License, and +distribute such a combined library, provided that the separate +distribution of the work based on the Library and of the other +library facilities is otherwise permitted, and provided that you +do these two things:

+ + + +

8. You may not copy, modify, sublicense, link with, or +distribute the Library except as expressly provided under this +License. Any attempt otherwise to copy, modify, sublicense, link +with, or distribute the Library is void, and will automatically +terminate your rights under this License. However, parties who +have received copies, or rights, from you under this License will +not have their licenses terminated so long as such parties remain +in full compliance.

+ +

9. You are not required to accept this License, since +you have not signed it. However, nothing else grants you +permission to modify or distribute the Library or its derivative +works. These actions are prohibited by law if you do not accept +this License. Therefore, by modifying or distributing the Library +(or any work based on the Library), you indicate your acceptance +of this License to do so, and all its terms and conditions for +copying, distributing or modifying the Library or works based on +it.

+ +

10. Each time you redistribute the Library (or any work +based on the Library), the recipient automatically receives a +license from the original licensor to copy, distribute, link with +or modify the Library subject to these terms and conditions. You +may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients' +exercise of the rights granted herein. You are not responsible +for enforcing compliance by third parties with this License.

+ +

11. If, as a consequence of a court judgment or +allegation of patent infringement or for any other reason (not +limited to patent issues), conditions are imposed on you (whether +by court order, agreement or otherwise) that contradict the +conditions of this License, they do not excuse you from the +conditions of this License. If you cannot distribute so as to +satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this License and +any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you may +not distribute the Library at all. For example, if a patent +license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the +Library by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly +through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this +License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the +Library.

+ +

If any portion of this section is held invalid or +unenforceable under any particular circumstance, the balance of +the section is intended to apply, and the section as a whole is +intended to apply in other circumstances.

+ +

It is not the purpose of this section to induce you to +infringe any patents or other property right claims or to contest +validity of any such claims; this section has the sole purpose of +protecting the integrity of the free software distribution system +which is implemented by public license practices. Many people +have made generous contributions to the wide range of software +distributed through that system in reliance on consistent +application of that system; it is up to the author/donor to +decide if he or she is willing to distribute software through any +other system and a licensee cannot impose that choice.

+ +

This section is intended to make thoroughly clear what is +believed to be a consequence of the rest of this License.

+ +

12. If the distribution and/or use of the Library is +restricted in certain countries either by patents or by +copyrighted interfaces, the original copyright holder who places +the Library under this License may add an explicit geographical +distribution limitation excluding those countries, so that +distribution is permitted only in or among countries not thus +excluded. In such case, this License incorporates the limitation +as if written in the body of this License.

+ +

13. The Free Software Foundation may publish revised +and/or new versions of the Lesser General Public License from +time to time. Such new versions will be similar in spirit to the +present version, but may differ in detail to address new problems +or concerns.

+ +

Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the +Library specifies a version number of this License which applies +to it and "any later version", you have the option of following +the terms and conditions either of that version or of any later +version published by the Free Software Foundation. If the Library +does not specify a license version number, you may choose any +version ever published by the Free Software Foundation.

+ +

14. If you wish to incorporate parts of the Library +into other free programs whose distribution conditions are +incompatible with these, write to the author to ask for +permission. For software which is copyrighted by the Free +Software Foundation, write to the Free Software Foundation; we +sometimes make exceptions for this. Our decision will be guided +by the two goals of preserving the free status of all derivatives +of our free software and of promoting the sharing and reuse of +software generally.

+ +

NO WARRANTY

+ +

15. BECAUSE THE LIBRARY IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, +THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE LIBRARY, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY +APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE +COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE LIBRARY "AS +IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, +INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF +MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE +RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE LIBRARY IS WITH +YOU. SHOULD THE LIBRARY PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF +ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

+ +

16. IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR +AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER +PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR REDISTRIBUTE THE LIBRARY AS PERMITTED +ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, +SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE +USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE LIBRARY (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES +SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE LIBRARY TO +OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER SOFTWARE), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER +PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

+ +

END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

+ +

How to Apply These Terms to Your New Libraries

+ +

If you develop a new library, and you want it to be of the +greatest possible use to the public, we recommend making it free +software that everyone can redistribute and change. You can do so +by permitting redistribution under these terms (or, +alternatively, under the terms of the ordinary General Public +License).

+ +

To apply these terms, attach the following notices to the +library. It is safest to attach them to the start of each source +file to most effectively convey the exclusion of warranty; and +each file should have at least the "copyright" line and a pointer +to where the full notice is found.

+ +
+<one line to give the library's name and an idea of what it does.>
+Copyright (C) <year> <name of author>
+
+This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+
+ +

Also add information on how to contact you by electronic and +paper mail.

+ +

You should also get your employer (if you work as a +programmer) or your school, if any, to sign a "copyright +disclaimer" for the library, if necessary. Here is a sample; +alter the names:

+ +
+Yoyodyne, Inc., hereby disclaims all copyright interest in
+the library `Frob' (a library for tweaking knobs) written
+by James Random Hacker.
+
+<signature of Ty Coon>, 1 April 1990
+Ty Coon, President of Vice
+
+ +

That's all there is to it!

+ + + + + +
+ + +