I think it makes sense to place standalone documents like the Caldera
license in a central location. However I don't see a lot of value in
placing copies of non-standalone license/copyright notices in a place
other than their original locations, because all these texts have
context ("/This /software is copyright ...."), which I think is
important both historically and practically.
Perhaps it would be better to create an index of license/copyright
notices that appear in the source tree, including pointers to their
containing files. Extra points for an historical analysis of the
evolution/commonality of license texts as they appear over time and
across Unix versions.
--Jay
On 7/2/2022 11:15 AM, Clem Cole wrote:
As part of some of simh work, I've been immersed
in some licensing
discussions. Thanks for the V8-10, Plan-9 and Inferno notes - they
are relevant.
Anyway, WRT to TUHS, I'm thinking that at least in the case of the
Unix style bits, I propose a small change to Waren's top-level
directory. Add a new dir called something like 'Legal Docs' or
'Copyrights+Licenses'. Then move the Caldera document and Warren's
current note into that area. Then add copies of anything we can
collect like the Dan Cross's V8-10, anything WRT to Plan9/Inferno or
anything we from the UNIX world - such as something Sun, DEC or HP or
like might have added. Maybe add a subdirectory with the AT&T/USL
case details. And maybe add a sub-directory with known FOSS licenses
used by the UNIX community and add a copy of the 3-clause BSD and
maybe even the two GPLs.
Then update the README in the current top-level dir. Adding to the
contents something like "/the IP contained on this website is covered
by different licenses depending on the specific IP. Copies of these
can be found with the source code itself, but have also been all
collected together in the top-level directory: .../."
I think these all have both historical values, as well as practical
values. As I said, I was not sure myself and I think other would be
less ignorant if they could find it all easily. In the case of the
practical, a for instance, in an email with some lawyers last week, I
had pointed them at the Caldera document. I'ld have loved to have
been able to say look in this directory. The Caldera and later
Nokia Licenses are what we are considering as examples.
Thoughts?