May 2019 License-Review Summary

In May, the License-Review mailing list saw extensive debate
on the Cryptographic Autonomy License.
The list also discussed
a BSD variant used by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
and the Master-Console license.

The corresponding License-Discuss summary is online
at
and covers an announcement regarding the role of the License-Review list,
discussion on the comprehensiveness of the approved license list,
and other topics.

## Cryptographic Autonomy License {#cal}

The review of the Cryptographic Autonomy License (CAL) continues.
Back in April,
[Van Lindberg][vanl:cal:submission] submitted the CAL as a network copyleft license,
but with broader scope than the AGPL
([see the summary](https://opensource.org/LicenseReview042019#cal)).

While the CAL clearly tries to comply with the OSD,
there are widespread concerns as to whether some fundamental aspects
are compatible with open source and software freedom.

[vanl:cal:submission]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-April/004028.html

### Public Performance {#cal-public-performance}

[Bruce Perens][perens:cal:restriction] claims that
use of public performance rights implies a field-specific restriction in the sense of OSD #6,
e.g. because it would allow private use but not public use.
(Note: the mere use of these rights does not create such a restriction.)

Scott Peterson [[1][peterson:cal:performance],[2][peterson:cal:performance2]]
argues that software interoperation
cannot be a “performance” in the sense of US copyright law
– even if a public performance right exists for software.
The CAL makes software interoperation more difficult and should not be approved.
[Van Lindberg][vanl:cal:performance]
provides his analysis of the term.
Notably, Lindberg’s definition does not require a human audience for the performance.

Chestek [[1][chestek:cal:review2],[2][chestek:cal:review2a]]
finds a potential problem with how public performance interacts with modified works,
as parts of the license only consider public performance of interfaces.
[Van Lindberg][vanl:cal:review2] appreciates this point.

### User Data {#cal-userdata}

[Bruce Perens][perens:cal:copyright-userdata] argues that the CAL’s user data provisions
go beyond copyright law.
Users don’t have an a priori right to receive their user data until the CAL created this right.
But this means that the operator’s copyright license
is conditional on fulfilling the user data obligations,
which is an unreasonably far-reaching compulsion.

[Pamela Chestek][chestek:cal:tivo]
follows up on [April’s discussion][LicenseReview042019:tivo]
on whether the CAL’s user data clause
is comparable with the GPLv3’s anti-Tivoization clause.
[Van Lindberg][vanl:cal:tivo]
sees a distinction between two of CAL’s clauses:
The CAL forbids locking down the software via cryptographic means,
a kind of Tivoization.
The CAL also requires user data to be provided,
which is necessary to ensure user freedom in a SaaS context.
[Bruce Perens][perens:cal:tivo]
agrees that this should be fixed – but by some law, not by a license.
And anyway, the user should just keep backups of their data.

Nigel Tzeng [[1][tzeng:cal:userdata],[2][tzeng:cal:userdata-request],[3][tzeng:cal:unworkable]]
thinks the user data obligations are unrealistic and excessive,
for example where the operator has no easy way to make a copy of the data.
This is problematic even with a good faith effort to comply,
and makes the CAL “unworkable for most operators.”
How detailed do requests have to be?
Does holding a copyright license imply a possessory interest?
But if the user data only covers the user’s inputs (not modified or intermediate formats),
the right to a copy is also not very useful.

Van Lindberg [[1][vanl:cal:userdata],[2][vanl:cal:userdata-request],[3][vanl:cal:userdata-easy]]
responds that the user data clauses ensure data portability
to inputs and outputs of the software,
and where the user has some possessory interest in the data.
What that encompasses precisely would depend on the jurisdiction.
Having a (public) license for some data does not imply a possessory interest.

User data requests will typically only cover data that the end user uploaded.
This can be implemented via export functionality in the software
(note: as is already common in GDPR-compliant systems).
That does not imply excessive effort for the operator.
Where no such functionality is implemented this may require some effort,
but that is comparable with having to provide the source code.
When the request covers data that they didn’t upload,
they would have to specifically demonstrate their possessory interest.

Bruce Perens [[1][perens:cal:userdata-blockchain],[2][perens:cal:userdata-p2p]]
doesn’t buy Lindberg’s argument that providing user data were easy.
In a blockchain setting,
providing user data might be as simple as providing a copy of the blockchain.
But in other settings operators have no guidance or guarantees.
Peer to peer applications seem especially problematic,
since every end user would be an operator.
Lindberg’s fixation on certain SaaS settings is not helpful.

### GDPR {#cal-gdpr}

Chestek [[1][chestek:cal:review],[2][chestek:cal:review2]]
assumes the GDPR is being referenced
because there would otherwise be a conflict with CAL compliance.
Such preferential treatment of the GDPR
would be “facially non-compliant with OSD 6”:
it relieves someone complying with the GDPR from complying with the CAL.
Compliance with the CAL might also be impossible
if a jurisdiction has conflicting privacy laws.
The section should be rephrased to avoid being specific to any legal regime,
or removed when no conflict is expected.

Lindberg [[1][vanl:cal:review],[2][vanl:cal:review1],[3][vanl:cal:gdpr-remove]]
explains that
the reference to GDPR is intended to streamline compliance:
if the operator already complies with the GDPR,
that’s already good enough for compliance with the CAL’s user data requirements.
This is just an interpretive guide, and doesn’t confer special permissions.
Given the amount of confusion that clause has caused,
Lindberg considers removing it.

### Fontana: The CAL is not Free because it encumbers APIs {#cal-fontana}

In April, Pamela Chestek had asked
why specifically the CAL should not be approved,
under the assumption that public performance rights are a thing for APIs.

[Richard Fontana][fontana:cal:osd] responds:

* it forces reimplementations of a CAL-covered API to be open source
* Joke: any license can be opposed on the grounds that it violates OSD 5/6
(restricts some persons, or fields of endeavour)
* but here the CAL really looks like such a violation
* not necessarily a problem: even the GPL certainly restricts some persons
* “From a software freedom perspective,
extending a copyleft requirement to an interfae is unjust.”
* CAL might violate the spirit of OSD 9 (don’t restrict other software),
similar to the SSPL.
* OSI review should not just check OSD conformance,
but also whether the license provides software freedom
* the CAL’s unreasonable burden on interface re-implementors violates software freedom.

* that the license limits itself to copyright law
doesn’t mean it provides software freedom

* a copyleft license like the CAL
doesn’t necessarily make more software available under open licenses.

* unusual license might see no adoption
* seems to serve a proprietary dual-licensing business model
* which would mean it would actually result in *less* open software

* questions what it means to publicly perform an API.
* could see such a performance for GUIs
* but APIs are not typically perceived by users

[Pamela Chestek][chestek:cal:no-different]
responds that she still can’t see the CAL
“as even slightly different from the GPL in reach”,
under the assumption that API copyright exists.
Chestek is more concerned
about the applicability of public performance rights outside the US.
Chestek is confused by Fontana’s position that a free software license
may not apply copyleft to all aspects of copyright (such as API copyright).

Chestek does not believe Fontana’s argument
that the CAL will result in less free software.
If some copyleft licenses are harmful, where exactly is the tipping point?
Why is AGPL acceptable but CAL not?

[Fontana][fontana:cal:no-different] responds
that a license may decide to cover API copyright, but no FOSS license should do so.
Fontana thinks that the CAL breaks with the (A)GPL tradition,
and is confident that the FSF would condemn any interpretation
that the CAL were essentially the same as the GPL.

### Perens: Licenses should not cover API copyright {#cal-perens}

[Bruce Perens][perens:cal:free] summarizes his stance on free software:

* since the DFSG, it has been clear that running open source software for any purpose must be allowed
* it is necessary that the rules don’t have total sympathy for proprietary developers
* it is fine to require the sharing of modifications
* many network copyleft licenses change the fundamental deal of open source
* running for any purpose no longer allowed
* such licenses no longer respect users
* approving network copyleft licenses is a slippery slope towards losing authority
* supporting API copyright is a bad idea because it can be used against the open source community
* perhaps later API copyright licenses will become necessary as a defense

On the interpretation of the OSD, Perens sees two ways forward:
Either the OSD is interpreted literally, but is also amended/clarified regularly.
Or, the OSD is interpreted intelligently.

[Van Lindberg][vanl:cal:post-api] argues that
“we have already entered the world in which licenses like the CAL are necessary”:
“Put aside the network aspect.
How many reimplementations of the GNU readline interface are there?
How many bashisms have made it into other shells?
Under Oracle v Google, those are derivative works.”
[Perens][perens:cal:post-api] disagrees
and urges not to “concede the fight before it is lost.”

[Henrik Ingo][ingo:cal:free]
agrees with Perens that the CAL oversteps some boundaries,
in particular with its user data requirements.
However, the age of SaaS makes strong network copyleft licenses necessary
in order to protect end user freedom.
Ingo hopes a scaled-down CAL would get approved.

To Peren’s point that
approving non-free licenses could cause the OSI to lose authority,
Ingo adds that
failing to approve OSD-compliant licenses would be harmful as well.
“Network copyleft is clearly an area where currently supply and demand don’t meet”.
[Perens][perens:cal:approval-costs] obviously disagrees
and reminds that approval can cause problems for the community.
The community is also not reliant on OSI approving new licenses,
just like the FSF doesn’t have to write new licenses:
“While we are starting to see reasons for GPL 4, nobody is in a hurry.”

Pamela Chestek [[1][chestek:cal:post-api],[2][chestek:cal:post-api2]]
questions why involving public performance rights is necessary to protect APIs.
“Public performance” is an US-specific term,
and the CAL might stretch beyond the bounds of copyright.
In contrast, the GPLv3 defines its term “propagate” in terms of copyright law.
Chestek suggests the CAL could borrow this approach.
[Lindberg][vanl:cal:defined-term] doesn’t quite disagree,
but objects on multiple points.
The CAL should make its intention to cover public performance explicit,
it already defines the term within the license,
it must also consider IP other than copyright,
it doesn’t stretch beyond copyright,
and Lindberg would like to stick to existing terms.

### Freedom in Website and Blockchain Scenarios {#cal-website}

[Pamela Chestek][chestek:cal:website]
asks whether she would be eligible to receive a CAL-covered websites source code
when she enters a third party’s user data into a form on the website.
[Van Lindberg][vanl:cal:website]
responds that yes, she would be eligible for the source just as under the AGPL.
However, the source code requirement already triggers due to using the software.
Here, the third person’s personal data is not that third person’s user data,
but the user data of the one entering the data into the website.

Bruce Perens [[1][perens:cal:blockchain],[2][perens:cal:blockchain2]]
extends the scenario with a blockchain-based example,
where there might be “derivative data”.
Perens also thinks the CAL’s definition of source code
includes private keys that were used to manipulate data in the blockchain.
After all, any blockchain participant would be an operator processing user data.
(Note: this may be a misunderstanding of both blockchain technology and the CAL.)

Van Lindberg [[1][vanl:cal:blockchain],[2][vanl:cal:blockchain2]]
provides two detailed replies.
The CAL does not have a concept of derived data.
Instead, obligations arise if someone is a Recipient in the sense of the license.
The operator’s obligation to provide data
only extends to the user’s data,
and only to the extent that the operator can retrieve this data.
Disclosure of private keys is not required in the context of user data,
although it could be required in the context of the source code
as part of the CAL’s anti-Tivoization clause.
In general, Perens’s hypotheticals “don’t really make sense”,
and would result in roughly the same outcomes as under the AGPL.

Bruce Perens [[1][perens:cal:freedom],[2][perens:cal:freedom2]]
claims that while the CAL may or may not violate the OSD,
it definitely violates the FSF’s Freedom Zero
“to run the program as you wish, for any purpose”.
The problematic user data terms even apply to unmodified software.
In Peren’s eyes,
Lindberg has arbitrarily redefined the FSF’s concept of Software Freedom
to cover user data.
Lindberg [[1][vanl:cal:freedom],[2][vanl:cal:freedom2]]
insists the CAL ensures end user freedom the same way the GPL does,
this involves preventing intermediaries/operators from taking rights away.
The question to decide is precisely
whether the operator’s freedom to lock down end user data
is more important than
the end user’s freedom to run the software with their own data.
Lindberg and Perens just disagree on how to resolve that dilemma.
Lindberg has also asked the FSF for their opinion.

Bruce Perens [[1][perens:cal:competent]]
also thinks the user data terms are unnecessary
in the decentralized context for which the license was drafted.
[Lindberg][vanl:cal:freedom]
argues that the CAL helps to keep a system decentralized.

Bruce Perens [[1][perens:cal:competent]]
sees an overarching problem with the license:
that even competent attorneys seem to be struggling with its terms,
particularly regarding user data and public performance.
Courts might not share Lindberg’s interpretation.
Developers without legal counsel don’t have the “slightest hope”
of applying the license correctly.
Lindberg [[1][vanl:cal:freedom],[2][vanl:cal:gpl-simple]]
concedes that fully understanding a legal instrument like the CAL
does require counsel.
But the CAL is no more complex than the GPL.
The effect of the CAL can be summarized concisely
in a manner that would be understood by an ordinary developer.
Perens [[1][perens:cal:competent2],[2][perens:cal:gpl-simple]]
[Perens][perens:cal:competent2] disagrees with that summary,
and thinks Lindberg’s stance is deeply unsympathetic to users.

### Other Points {#cal-other}

Re claim by Pamela Chestek: OSI decision making is unpredictable.
[Bruce Perens][perens:cal:unpredictable] responds that “we like it that way”.
OSI review should not mechanically implement pseudo-laws,
but care about the community’s interest.

[Bruce Perens][perens:cal:binding-author]
asks whether the copyright holder
would also be bound by the conditions of the CAL, e.g. regarding user data.
Peren’s understanding is that they would not be bound,
which would privilege them compared to other operators.
[Van Lindberg][vanl:cal:binding-author]
claims that the CAL places no party in a privileged position.

[Van Lindberg][vanl:cal:agpl-unclear]
argues that the CAL is also necessarily
because the AGPL is so unclear and ambiguous.
The CAL would be clearer, and would have applicable case law “at least by analogy”.

[Kevin Fleming][fleming:cal:patents-only]
asks if the CAL is only fully effective if patents are involved.
[Lindberg][vanl:cal:patents-only]
responds that patents holders will have extra tools,
but that the CAL is based equally on copyright, patents, and contract methods.

Pamela Chestek and Van Lindberg continue their review discussion from last month.

* [Lindberg][vanl:cal:review] updated language
around the LGPL/MPL-style Combined Works exception.

* [Chestek][chestek:cal:review] thinks the anti-DRM clause is “unintelligible”.
[Lindberg][vanl:cal:review1] provides a side by side comparison of the clauses
in GPLv3 and CAL.

* [Chestek][chestek:cal:review] thinks the CAL is overly complicated
when trying to ensure that all permissions are passed to downstream recipients.
Isn’t this as simple as “cannot impose additional restrictions”?
[Lindberg][vanl:cal:review1] responds that this isn’t as simple.
He doesn’t want to enumerate allowed restrictions like the GPL does.
However, Lindberg updates relevant language in the CAL.

[Henrik Ingo][ingo:cal:amend]
is torn on whether the CAL should be approved.
Prima facie, the CAL violates the OSD
– but only due to its well-justified, tightly-scoped user data requirements
that are necessary to ensure end user freedom in practice:
“the CAL is a net positive contribution to software freedom.”
The user data clauses do not violate Freedom Zero if the operator is viewed
as merely running the software *on behalf* of the end user.
If this violates the OSD, maybe the OSD should be amended.

Bruce Perens [[1][perens:cal:amend],[2][perens:cal:amend2]]
doesn’t think the OSD can be a comprehensive list
of allowed or disallowed license features.
It should not be amended until it can be interpreted mechanically.

[Ingo][ingo:cal:amend] had invoked the License Zero review as precedent.
[Richard Fontana][fontana:cal:l0] clarifies that
L0 was retracted and not rejected,
but that the significant past “hostile receptions”
should be treated with some significance.

### Lindberg’s Summary {#cal-summary}

Van Lindberg [[1][vanl:cal:summary],[2][vanl:cal:summary-perens]]
tries to summarize various objections and discussion points,
and provides references to various arguments that have been made.
The three main issues are:

1. whether data portability can be guaranteed as part of software freedom and under the OSD
2. whether public performance is effective, OSD-compliant, and good policy
3. whether the CAL is too complicated or unclear

The objections mainly apply to the operator of the software,
not to end users.
Issues 1 and 2 are fundamental policy questions.

[Bruce Perens][perens:cal:essential]
confirms he believes that
“an operator’s ability to lock down the data they receive from end users
is core to the OSD and to the concept of Free Software” (as phrased by Lindberg).
[John Cowan][cowan:cal:stick]
thinks Lindberg is approaching this from the wrong end:
the right to commit crimes is not core to FOSS.
But using FOSS licensing to enforce ethical actions is a Very Bad Idea.

Lawrence Rosen [[1][rosen:cal:against],[2][rosen:cal:against2],[3][rosen:cal:against3],[4][rosen:cal:performance-execution]]
is against approval.
While Rosen accepts a public performance right for software (his own OSL uses it),
it has limited value and has nothing to do with normal execution of the software.
Performance does not include the rendering, display, or execution of a software.
Rosen thinks the CAL’s user data clauses are troubling,
since data is not copyrightable.
At most, a confidentiality clause would be appropriate.
Lindberg [[1][vanl:cal:data-copyright],[2][vanl:cal:public-performance],[3][vanl:cal:performance-definition]]
points out that the CAL has nothing to do with copyrightability of data,
and uses a multi-pronged mechanism of which copyright is only one part.
Lindberg thinks Rosen is reading the definition of public performance in US law too narrowly,
and provides caselaw to bolster his argument.

[Luis Villa][villa:cal:complex]
argues that the CAL is not excessively complex.
The CAL and GPL use similarly complex language,
although both are more complex than other licenses.
If objections on the grounds of complexity were to carry any weight, then
“OSI can… only approve long-existing licenses (or trivial permissives).
(If that’s the board’s intent I’d love to hear it;
we can all unsubscribe from this list and call it a day!)”
[McCoy Smith][smith:cal:complex] concurs:
there’s a difference between ambiguity (bad) and inherent complexity (acceptable)
of a license.

[Pamela Chestek][chestek:cal:api-encumberance]
adds the major objection that the CAL would be the first open source license
to encumber API reimplementations.
This is the main issue, compared to any debates over public performance.
[Henrik Ingo][ingo:cal:api-performance] argues that both are problematic,
and that invoking public performance rights seems unnecessary
except for the CAL’s goal to implement API-copyleft.
[Lindberg][vanl:cal:api-performance]
views these issues as independent.
The CAL’s use of public performance is primarily
an alternative to the AGPL’s “network interaction” mechanism.
API copyleft is a reaction to the Oracle vs Google case.

[Richard Fontana][fontana:cal:summary]
thinks Lindberg’s summary fails to accurately capture fundamental objections.
The issue is not whether API copyleft could be premature,
the whole concept runs against FOSS and industry conventions.
If a license makes use of API copyright,
then please only for maximally permissive licensing.
[Henrik Ingo][ingo:cal:api-strategy]
thinks API copyright would be a huge detriment to the industry
– would any readline implementation be copyright infringement?
But if it happens, the FOSS community shouldn’t just cede that ground.
“Still, as long as we’re not there yet,
we of course shouldn’t be the first party to strike.”

[perens:cal:restriction]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004081.html
[perens:cal:unpredictable]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004080.html
[perens:cal:copyright-userdata]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004082.html
[vanl:cal:review]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004083.html
[chestek:cal:review]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004099.html
[vanl:cal:review1]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004101.html
[chestek:cal:review2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004103.html
[chestek:cal:review2a]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004106.html
[vanl:cal:review2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004104.html
[fontana:cal:osd]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004084.html
[chestek:cal:no-different]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004085.html
[fontana:cal:no-different]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004093.html
[perens:cal:free]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004086.html
[vanl:cal:post-api]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004087.html
[perens:cal:post-api]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004088.html
[vanl:cal:agpl-unclear]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004089.html
[chestek:cal:post-api]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004091.html
[chestek:cal:post-api2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004107.html
[vanl:cal:defined-term]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004108.html
[fleming:cal:patents-only]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004110.html
[vanl:cal:patents-only]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004111.html
[ingo:cal:free]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004097.html
[perens:cal:approval-costs]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004098.html
[peterson:cal:performance]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004092.html
[peterson:cal:performance2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004094.html
[vanl:cal:performance]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004095.html
[LicenseReview042019:tivo]: https://opensource.org/LicenseReview042019#cal-freedom-data
[chestek:cal:tivo]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004100.html
[vanl:cal:tivo]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004102.html
[perens:cal:tivo]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004105.html
[chestek:cal:website]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004112.html
[vanl:cal:website]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004113.html
[perens:cal:blockchain]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004114.html
[perens:cal:binding-author]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004115.html
[vanl:cal:binding-author]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004117.html
[vanl:cal:blockchain]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004116.html
[perens:cal:blockchain2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004118.html
[vanl:cal:blockchain2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004119.html
[perens:cal:freedom]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004121.html
[perens:cal:competent]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004122.html
[vanl:cal:freedom]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004123.html
[perens:cal:freedom2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004124.html
[vanl:cal:freedom2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004126.html
[ingo:cal:amend]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004148.html
[perens:cal:amend]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004149.html
[perens:cal:amend2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004152.html
[fontana:cal:l0]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004151.html
[perens:cal:competent2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004125.html
[tzeng:cal:userdata]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004127.html
[vanl:cal:userdata]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004128.html
[tzeng:cal:userdata-request]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004130.html
[vanl:cal:userdata-request]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004132.html
[perens:cal:userdata-blockchain]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004134.html
[tzeng:cal:unworkable]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004146.html
[vanl:cal:userdata-easy]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004147.html
[vanl:cal:gpl-simple]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004129.html
[perens:cal:gpl-simple]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004131.html
[vanl:cal:summary]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004153.html
[vanl:cal:summary-perens]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004133.html
[perens:cal:userdata-p2p]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004135.html
[perens:cal:essential]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004136.html
[rosen:cal:against]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004137.html
[rosen:cal:against2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004138.html
[vanl:cal:data-copyright]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004139.html
[cowan:cal:stick]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004140.html
[villa:cal:complex]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004143.html
[smith:cal:complex]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004145.html
[vanl:cal:gdpr-remove]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004156.html
[rosen:cal:against3]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004157.html
[vanl:cal:public-performance]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004158.html
[rosen:cal:performance-execution]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004159.html
[vanl:cal:performance-definition]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004165.html
[chestek:cal:api-encumberance]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004160.html
[ingo:cal:api-performance]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004163.html
[vanl:cal:api-performance]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004166.html
[fontana:cal:summary]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004162.html
[ingo:cal:api-strategy]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004164.html

## LBNL BSD {#lbnl}

Sebastian Ainslie
[[1][ainslie:lbnl:text],[2][ainslie:lbnl:rationale],[3][ainslie:lbnl:rationale2]]
asks for *legacy approval* of the LBNL-BSD,
a 3-clause BSD variant used at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL).
Compared to the common BSD template,
it adds a caveat that U.S. Dept. of Energy approval may be required,
presumably required for all DOE labs.
It also adds a paragraph that published modifications
fall under the same license by default.
This is a bit like an implied CLA, or like copyleft with an opt-out.
Ainslie explains this is necessary in order to accept contributions
without signed CLAs.

### Legacy approval {#legacy}

There is some contention on what *legacy approval* signifies.

[Bruce Perens][perens:lbnl:proliferation]
raises a license proliferation objection.
[McCoy Smith][smith:lbnl:legacy]
wonders why OSI approval is needed
if the license has already been used for over a decade.
[Richard Fontana][fontana:lbnl:active-legacy]
wonders whether actively used licenses are eligible for legacy approval.
[Kevin Fleming][fleming:lbnl:legacy] assumes that
the use of legacy-approved licenses would be discouraged.
On further reading, [Fontana][fontana:lbnl:active-legacy-2] finds that
legacy approval is just retroactive.
It does not require the license to be unused,
and does not imply any discouragement.

Richard Fontana [[1][fontana:lbnl:legacy],[2][fontana:lbnl:legacy2]]
thinks that legacy-approval
must generally meet the same standard as new licenses,
especially with regard to OSD conformance.
But it would be a good idea for OSI to take a more active role
to explicitly approve licenses that are commonly used in Linux distributions.
Legacy approval should therefore be more lenient
about sloppy or amateurish drafting.
15 or 30 years ago, licenses simply were not drafted
with the same standards we expect today.

[Fontana][fontana:lbnl:defendosd]
sees many people
who do not accept OSI’s stewardship of the Open Source definition.
They can point to a vast collection of open source software
that does not use OSI-approved licenses.
A mass effort to approve more obviously-FOSS licenses
would then have some benefit.

### Actual review {#lbnl-review}

[Fontana][fontana:lbnl:legacy] sees the added paragraph as unclear or sloppily drafted.
It might not trigger the default license
if modified versions are privately given to third parties,
without these modifications being published.
This is different from Apache 2
which just codifies the “inbound = outbound” expectation.
Pamela Chestek [[1][chestek:lbnl:default],[2][chestek:lbnl:default2]]
wonders whether the paragraph is even relevant:
“inbound = outbound” is the default expectation,
with or without that paragraph.
The paragraph mainly affirms that
modifications can be published under a *different* license.
[Henrik Ingo][ingo:lbnl:cla] shares this view (see also below).
[John Cowan][cowan:lbnl:default] disagrees:
by default the modifications would have no license,
as the BSD would only apply to the original work.

[Tom Callaway][callaway:lbnl:bsd]
questions why the paragraph seems to assign different terms to enhancements
than the main BSD license.
[Richard Fontana][fontana:lbnl:bsd] too thinks that the contributor license
is broader than the BSD.
Ainslie [[1][ainslie:lbnl:bsd],[2][ainslie:lbnl:bsd2]]
argues that no such different terms are used,
but this seems to confuse the submitted license
with a suggested simplification by Callaway.

[McCoy Smith][smith:lbnl:legacy] and [Henrik Ingo][ingo:lbnl:cla]
note that OSI usually rejects licenses
that give preferential treatment to one party,
or are specific to some entity.
Here, this is not a problem:
while the LBNL is mentioned explicitly as a recipient,
it receives the same rights as the public.

[Henrik Ingo][ingo:lbnl:cla] is slightly concerned
about the default license paragraph
acting like an implicit contributor agreement.
But this is not a problem in practice:
code added to a BSD-licensed project is considered to be BSD-licensed as well.
The paragraph only seems like a clarification
in case of a standalone patch is sent without explicit license indicators.

[Brendan Hickey][hickey:lbnl:cla]
isn’t sure whether implicit “inbound = outbound” should be promoted.
Hickey points to projects like Linux
that expects patches to be explicitly signed off by the contributor.
Hickey also points to the C-FSL review,
where it was discussed that licenses cannot do copyright assignment.
So what kind of licensing terms would actually be necessary
in order to safely accept contributions?
[Henrik Ingo][ingo:lbnl:cla2]
responds that the license status of published modified versions
is usually clear without having to take extra steps,
and that no copyright assignment is involved.

[Richard Fontana][fontana:lbnl:dco]
suggests a DCO ()
as a simpler way to ensure that contributions are properly licensed.

[Ainslie][ainslie:lbnl:rationale2]
says that DOE labs cannot use a vanilla BSD license,
which made small changes to the license necessary.
Pamela Chestek [[1][chestek:lbnl:doe],[2][chestek:lbnl:doe2]]
[Pamela Chestek][chestek:lbnl:doe]
asks for documents that require these changes
and [McCoy Smith][smith:lbnl:doe]
asks which specific changes are mandated.
[Ainslie][ainslie:lbnl:doe]
says they have to attribute their funding source
and add a notice that DOE approval be required.
[McCoy Smith][smith:lbnl:notice]
questions whether the addition of a notice even creates a new license.
It is unclear to [Chestek][chestek:lbnl:version]
which of these changes are part of the license that is under review.

McCoy Smith [[1][smith:lbnl:notice],[2][smith:lbnl:notice2]]
thinks making the license conditional on DOE approval could be an OSD 7 issue.
But is that a license condition, or just a notice?

[Pamela Chestek][chestek:lbnl:usage]
asks how many projects use this LBNL license.
[Ainslie][ainslie:lbnl:usage]
says it’s used by nearly all open source software from Berkeley Lab,
adding up to hundreds of releases.

[ainslie:lbnl:text]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004169.html
[perens:lbnl:proliferation]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004172.html
[fleming:lbnl:legacy]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004173.html
[fontana:lbnl:legacy]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004174.html
[fontana:lbnl:legacy2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004176.html
[chestek:lbnl:default]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004181.html
[cowan:lbnl:default]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004183.html
[ingo:lbnl:cla]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004187.html
[hickey:lbnl:cla]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004190.html
[ingo:lbnl:cla2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004191.html
[smith:lbnl:legacy]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004175.html
[fontana:lbnl:defendosd]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004177.html
[fontana:lbnl:active-legacy]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004184.html
[fontana:lbnl:active-legacy-2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004186.html
[ainslie:lbnl:rationale]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004178.html
[chestek:lbnl:default2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004180.html
[chestek:lbnl:doe]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004182.html
[ainslie:lbnl:rationale2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004185.html
[smith:lbnl:doe]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004192.html
[fontana:lbnl:dco]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004194.html
[chestek:lbnl:doe2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004208.html
[ainslie:lbnl:doe]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004218.html
[smith:lbnl:notice]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004219.html
[chestek:lbnl:version]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004223.html
[callaway:lbnl:bsd]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004225.html
[smith:lbnl:notice2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004226.html
[ainslie:lbnl:bsd]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004228.html
[ainslie:lbnl:bsd2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004229.html
[fontana:lbnl:bsd]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004233.html
[chestek:lbnl:usage]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004231.html
[ainslie:lbnl:usage]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004232.html

## Master-Console {#master-console}

[Wayne Rangel][rangel:mc:submission]
Wayne Rangel [[1][rangel:mc:submission],[2][rangel:mc:rationale]]
submits the “Master-Console’s Open Source Definitive License”
for approval.
It is difficult to tell, but the rationale for this license seems to be:

* that the original author can take down malicious modifications
* that the source code shall be offered in a specific manner,
presumably that the source code can be downloaded via a web browser

[Lukas Atkinson][atkinson:mc:wtf]
expresses their frustration that the license seems impossible to understand,
both from a legal perspective and due to the unidiomatic English.
[Christoper Sean Morrison][morrison:mc:wtf]
thinks “that should be grounds for rejection alone.”
[McCoy Smith][smith:mc:nonfree] sees the license terms as an OSD 5/6 violation.
The license is also likely non-free,
“although the wording is such that I can’t quite tell.”
[Bruce Perens][perens:mc:artistic]
points to the Artistic License as an example where an unclearly drafted license
resulted in high costs to third parties.

[Richard Fontana][fontana:mc:gtfo]
suggests the license is not yet ready for review.
Pamela Chestek [[1][chestek:mc:retract],[2][chestek:mc:retract2]]
asks for the license to be retracted from review.

[rangel:mc:submission]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004199.html
[atkinson:mc:wtf]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004200.html
[rangel:mc:rationale]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004201.html
[fontana:mc:gtfo]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004204.html
[smith:mc:nonfree]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004214.html
[morrison:mc:wtf]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004202.html
[chestek:mc:retract]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004206.html
[chestek:mc:retract2]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004227.html
[perens:mc:artistic]: http://lists.opensource.org/pipermail/license-review_lists.opensource.org/2019-May/004216.html

## Help Wanted! {#help}

Our current editor of the monthly License-Discuss and License-Review reports,
Lukas Atkinson,
will not be available to continue in June and July,
and may have limited availability throughout the rest of the year.
If you would like to join the OSI as list editor, or know someone who might,
please contact [OSI General Manager Patrick Masson](mailto:masson@opensource.org).
The list editor works on a freelance basis
to provide monthly summaries of the License-Review and License-Discuss mailing lists.