1 Copyright (C) 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
2 See the end of the file for license conditions.
5 NOTES ON COPYRIGHTS AND LICENSES
9 A "copyright notice" consists of one or a few lines of this format:
10 "Copyright (C) 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc."
12 A "license notice" is a statement of permissions, and is usually much
13 longer, eg the text "GNU Emacs is free software...".
16 Summary for the impatient:
18 1. Don't add a file to Emacs written by someone other than yourself
19 without thinking about the legal aspect (make sure they have an
20 assignment, adjust the copyright statements in the file). NB the
21 ChangeLog entry should be in the name of the author of the code, not
22 the person who installs it.
24 2. With images, add the legal info to a README file in the directory
27 3. If you add a lot of text to a previously trivial file that had no
28 legal notices, consider if you should add a copyright statement.
31 Every non-trivial file distributed through the Emacs CVS should be
32 self-explanatory in terms of copyright and license. This includes
33 files that are not distributed in Emacs releases (for example, the
34 admin/ directory), because the whole Emacs CVS is publicly
37 The definition of triviality is a little vague, but a rule of thumb is
38 that any file with less than 15 lines of actual content is trivial. If
39 a file is auto-generated (eg ldefs-boot.el) from another one in the
40 CVS, then it does not really matter about adding a copyright statement
41 to the generated file.
43 Legal advice says that we could, if we wished, put a license notice
44 even in trivial files, because copyright law in general looks at the
45 overall work as a whole. It is not _necessary_ to do so, and rms
46 prefers that we do not. This means one needs to take care that trivial
47 files do not grow and become non-trivial without having a license
48 added. NB consequently, if you add a lot of text to a small file,
49 consider whether your changes have made the file worthy of a copyright
50 notice, and if so, please add one.
52 The years in the copyright notice should be updated every year (see
53 file "years" in this directory). The PS versions of refcards etc
54 should display copyright notices (an exception to the rule about
55 "generated" files), but these can just display the latest year. The
56 full list of years should be kept in comments in the source file. If
57 these are distributed in CVS, check in a regenerated version when the
58 tex files are updated.
60 Copyright changes should be propagated to any associated repositories
61 (eg Gnus, MH-E), but I think in every case this happens automatically
64 All README (and other such text files) that are non-trivial should
65 contain copyright statements and GPL license notices, exactly as .el
66 files do (see e.g. README in the top-level directory). Before 2007,
67 we used a simple, short statement permitting copying and modification
68 provided legal notices were retained. In Feb 2007 we switched to the
69 standard GPL text, on legal advice. Some older text files in etc/
70 should, however, keep their current licenses (see below for list).
72 For image files, the copyright and license details should be recorded
73 in a README file in each directory with images. (Legal advice says
74 that we need not add notices to each image file individually, if they
75 allow for that.). It is recommended to use the word "convert" to
76 describe the automatic process of changing an image from one format to
77 another (http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2007-02/msg00618.html).
80 When installing a file with an "unusual" license (after checking first
81 it is ok), put a copy of the copyright and license in the file (if
82 possible. It's ok if this makes the file incompatible with its
83 original format, if it can still be used by Emacs), or in a README
84 file in the relevant directory.
86 The vast majority of files are copyright FSF and distributed under the
87 GPL. A few files (mainly related to language and charset support) are
88 copyright AIST alone, or both AIST and FSF. (Contact Kenichi Handa
89 with questions about legal issues in such files.) In all these cases,
90 the copyright years in each file should be updated each year.
92 There are some exceptions to the points in the previous paragraph, and
93 these are listed below for reference, together with any files where
94 the copyright needs to be updated in "unusual" ways.
96 If you find any other such cases, please consult to check they are ok,
97 and note them in this file. This includes missing copyright notices,
98 and "odd" copyright holders. In most cases, individual authors should
99 not appear in copyright statements. Either the copyright has been
100 assigned (check copyright.list) to the FSF (in which case the original
101 author should be removed and the year(s) transferred to the FSF); or
102 else it is possible the file should not be in Emacs at all (please
105 Note that it seems painfully clear that one cannot rely on CVS logs,
106 or even ChangeLogs, for older changes. People often installed changes
107 from others, without recording the true authorship.
109 [For reference, most of these points were established via email with
110 rms, 2007/1, "Copyright years".]
113 lib-src/etags.c # print_version
114 lib-src/rcs2log # Copyright
115 lisp/calc/calc-help.el # calc-full-help
116 lisp/startup.el # fancy-splash-tail
117 mac/Emacs.app/Contents/Resources/English.lproj/InfoPlist.strings
118 mac/src/Emacs.r # resource 'vers'
120 - remember to change the latest copyright year in the --version output.
121 [Post-release, will automate this like set-version does for version.]
123 <top-level>/install-sh
125 - this file is copyright MIT, which is OK. Leave the copyright alone.
127 admin/check-doc-strings
129 public domain, leave alone.
132 - update BOTH notices in this file
135 - keep simple license for this simple file
137 etc/letter.pbm,letter.xpm
138 - trivial, no notice needed.
139 <http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2007-02/msg00324.html>
142 - trivial (at time of writing), no license needed
144 etc/GNU, INTERVIEW, LINUX-GNU, MOTIVATION, SERVICE, THE-GNU-PROJECT,
146 rms: "These are statements of opinion or testimony. Their licenses
147 should permit verbatim copying only. Please don't change the
148 licenses that they have. They are distributed with Emacs but they
149 are not part of Emacs."
152 rms: simple license is fine for this file
157 Note that Andrew Zhilin has a copyright assignment on file (confirmed
158 by fsf-records), even though it doesn't seem to show up in
159 copyright.list for some reason (at time of writing, 2007/02).
160 http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2005-11/msg00349.html
162 leim/CXTERM-DIC/4Corner.tit, ARRAY30.tit, CCDOSPY.tit, ECDICT.tit,
163 ETZY.tit, PY-b5.tit, Punct-b5.tit, Punct.tit, QJ-b5.tit, QJ.tit,
164 SW.tit, TONEPY.tit, ZOZY.tit
165 - leave the copyrights alone.
167 leim/MISC-DIC/CTLau-b5.html, CTLau.html, cangjie-table.b5, cangjie-table.cns,
168 pinyin.map, ziranma.cin
169 - leave the copyright alone.
171 leim/SKK-DIC/SKK-JISYO.L
173 (the latter is auto-generated from the former). Leave the copyright alone.
176 - this has a copyright Ken Arnold. We are still deciding what should
177 be done here (see below).
179 lib-src/getopt1.c, getopt_int.h
180 - these are from the GNU C library. Leave the copyrights alone.
183 - no special rules about the copyright. We note here that we believe
184 (2007/1) there is no problem with our use of the name "tetris" or
186 rms: "My understanding is that game rules as such are not copyrightable."
187 <http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2007-01/msg00960.html>
189 lispref/doclicense.texi
191 - leave the copyright alone in this imported file.
194 - there are also copyrights in the body of the file. Update these too.
197 rms (2007/02/17): "lwlib is not assigned to the FSF; we don't consider
198 it part of Emacs. [...] Therefore non-FSF copyrights are ok in lwlib."
200 msdos/is_exec.c, sigaction.c
201 - these files are copyright DJ Delorie. Leave the copyrights alone.
202 Leave the Eli Zaretskii copyright in is_exec.c alone. See the
203 msdos/README file for the legal history of these files.
206 - contains numerous copyrights from the GNU C library. Leave them alone.
208 src/acldef.h, chpdef.h, ndir.h
209 - see comments below. These files are OK to be released with Emacs
210 22, but we may want to revisit them afterwards.
212 [src/unexhp9k800.c - removed 2007/1/27]
213 [src/m/sr2k.h - removed 2007/1/27]
214 - First file removed due to legal uncertainties; second file removed
215 due to dependency on first. Note that src/m/hp800.h is still needed on
217 NB we would like to re-add this file if we can. Please let us know
218 if you can clarify its legal status.
221 ** Some notes on resolved issues, for historical information only
224 - had no copyright notice till Feb 2007. ChangeLog.3 suggests it was
225 written by Eric Raymond. When asked by rms on 14 Feb 2007 he said:
227 I don't remember writing it, but it reads like my prose and I believe
228 I wrote the feature(s) it's describing. So I would have been the
229 likeliest person to write it.
231 Odds are that I did, but I'm not certain.
233 Accordingly, FSF copyright was added.
236 ** Issues that are "fixed" for the release of Emacs 22, but we may
237 wish to revisit later in more detail
241 src/acldef.h, chpdef.h, ndir.h
242 On legal advice from Matt Norwood, the following comment was added
243 to these files in Feb 2007:
245 The code here is forced by the interface, and is not subject to
246 copyright, constituting the only possible expression of the
247 algorithm in this format.
249 With the addition of this notice, these files are OK for the
250 upcoming Emacs-22 release. Post-release, we can revisit this issue
251 and possibly add a list of all authors who have changed these files.
252 (details in email from Matt Norwood to rms, 2007/02/03).
255 src/m/mips4.h, news-risc.h, pmax.h
256 src/s/aix3-2.h, bsd386.h, hpux8.h, hpux9.h, irix4-0.h, irix5-0.h,
257 isc2-2.h, netbsd.h, osf1.h, sol2-3.h, sunos4-0.h, usg5-4-2.h
258 - all these (not obviously trivial) files were missing copyrights
259 till Feb 2007, when FSF copyright was added. Matt Norwood advised:
261 For now, I think the best policy is to assume that we do have
262 assignments from the authors (I recall many of these header files
263 as having been originally written by rms), and to attach an FSF
264 copyright with GPL notice. We can amend this if and when we
265 complete the code audit. Any additions to these files by
266 non-assigned authors are arguably "de minimis" contributions to
267 Emacs: small changes or suggestions to a work that are subsumed in
268 the main authors' copyright in the entire work.
270 Here is my (rgm) take on the details of the above files:
273 might be trivial? started trivial, been added to in tiny changes by
274 those with FSF assignment, often result of email suggestions by others.
277 started trivial. Grown by tiny additions, plus chunk
278 from mips.h, which was and is Copyright FSF
281 started trivial. grown in tiny changes, except for maybe Jim Wilson's
285 I would say started non-trivial (1992, rms). only tiny changes since
289 I would say started non-trivial (1993, jimb, heavily based
290 on irix4-0.h). A few borderline non-tiny changes since.
293 started trivial. 2 non-tiny change, in 1993. looks to
294 be made up of several small tweaks from various sources. maybe
295 non-tiny total changes from Karl Berry (no emacs assignment).
298 started trivial. grown in tiny changes (one borderline tiny change
299 by fx in 2000, but most code was later removed). non-tiny addition
300 in 2002 from m/alpha.h, but that was and is copyright FSF.
303 started non-trivial, but was heavily based on usg5-4.h, which was and is
304 copyright FSF. only tiny changes since installed.
307 started trivial. only non-tiny change (1994) incorporated code from
308 usg5-4.h, which was and is copyright FSF.
310 aix3-2.h, bsd386.h, hpux8.h, hpux9.h, netbsd.h, sunos4-0.h
311 started trivial, grown in tiny changes.
314 Roland McGrath said to rms (2007/02/17): "I don't really remember
315 anything about it. If I put it in without other comment, then probably
319 Someone might want to tweak the copyright years (for dates before
320 2001) that I used in all these files.
322 Note: erring on the side of caution, I also added notices to some
323 files I thought might be considered non-trivial (if one includes
325 aix4-1.h hiuxmpp.h hiuxwe2.h hpux10.h irix6-0.h irix6-5.h isc3-0.h
326 ptx4.h sol2.h sunos4-0.h
328 (everything with > 30 non-blank lines, which at least is _some_ kind of
332 *** These are copyright issues that need not be fixed until after
333 Emacs 22 is released (though if they can be fixed before, that is
337 Is it OK to just `cvs remove' a file for legal reasons, or is
338 something more drastic needed? A removed file is still available from
339 CVS, if suitable options are applied. (This CVS issue obviously does
340 not affect a release).
344 Make sure that all files with non-standard copyrights or licenses are
349 File says it was written in 1983 by Eugene Ciccarelli, who has no
350 assignment. RMS: "The lawyer said we can keep BABYL."
353 REMOVED etc/orgcard.tex, orgcard.ps
354 Re-add these files if an assignment is received from Rooke.
358 Image files from GTK, Gnome are under GPLv2 (no "or later"?). RMS will
359 contact image authors in regards to future switch to v3.
362 REMOVED src/unexhp9k800.c
363 - we would like to re-add this file if possible. Please let us know
364 if you can clarify its legal status.
365 http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2007-02/msg00138.html
368 *** These are copyright issues still to be addressed:
370 NB apart from switching the TUTORIALs to GPL, I think there is nothing
371 here that anyone can work on without further input from rms.
374 Maybe some relevant comments here?
375 <http://groups.google.com/group/linux.debian.legal/browse_thread/thread/123547ea95437a1f>
378 etc/gnus-logo.eps, gnus-booklet.ps, gnus-refcard.ps
379 just to be safe, papers are on the way for the "Gnus logo", even
380 though it is very similar to the already-assigned "Emacs logo".
383 etc/ms-kermit - no copyright, but ms-7bkermit has one
386 etc/TUTORIAL* (translations)
387 switch to GPL (see english TUTORIAL)
388 rms: "We can leave the TUTORIAL translations alone until their
389 maintainers update them."
392 [waiting for legal advice]
394 - was it ok to use Ken Arnold's code as a basis?
395 1984 version of ctags, with no copyright, posted to net.sources:
396 http://groups.google.com/group/net.sources/msg/a21b6c21be12a98d)
397 version of etags.c in emacs-16.56 seems to be derived from this
398 (duplicate typos in comments).
401 [waiting for legal advice on lwlib/*]
403 copyright Chuck Thompson; but under GPL, so OK?
405 lwlib/lwlib-Xlw.c, lwlib-Xm.c, lwlib-Xm.h, xlwmenu.c
406 copyright lucid and FSF, but under GPL, so OK?
407 FSF copyrights were added in 200x, was that right?
409 lwlib/lwlib-int.h, lwlib.h, lwlib-Xaw.h, lwlib-Xlw.h, lwlib-utils.h
410 no copyright. last three trivial?
411 suspect these must have been part of the "Lucid Widget Library",
412 which is under GPL. Can't find an original version of this to check.
415 "some parts" copyright Lucid, no license
417 lwlib/lwlib-utils.c, lwlib.c
418 copyright Lucid, Inc; but under GPL, so OK?
420 lwlib/xlwmenu.h, xlwmenuP.h
421 part of 'Lucid Widget Library', but only FSF copyright (when files
422 were first checked into RCS, there were no copyrights). Was it right
423 to add FSF copyright?
424 should we add a 1992 Lucid copyright?
428 1) ensure all files that were originally in the "Lucid Widget
429 Library" have 1992 Lucid copyright?
430 2) add or remove FSF copyrights to any files we have made non-trivial
431 changes to since 1992?
434 [waiting for legal advice]
436 - should there be any FSF copyrights at all in here? Some were added
437 in 2005, without licence notices. Was this right?
438 Eg don't think copyright.h should have FSF copyright!
439 Should add copyright details for X11R1 to the README file. (see
440 copyright.h). I suggest we remove copyright.h and add the notices
441 directly into the files.
444 The general issue is, as with some of the Lucid code in lwlib, suppose
445 file foo.c is Copyright (C) 2000 John Smith, and released under the
446 GPL. We check it into Emacs CVS and make non-trivial changes to it.
447 Should we add a FSF copyright or not? Can we add such a notice as soon
448 as we check it check it in to CVS?
451 [waiting for legal advice]
452 oldXMenu/Makefile.in, Makefile, Imakefile, descrip.mms, insque.c
453 - issues described in mail to rms, 2006/12/17.
454 rms: "I have asked for lawyer's advice about these."
457 This file is part of GNU Emacs.
459 GNU Emacs is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
460 it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
461 the Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option)
464 GNU Emacs is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
465 but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
466 MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
467 GNU General Public License for more details.
469 You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
470 along with GNU Emacs; see the file COPYING. If not, write to the
471 Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
472 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.