On Fri, 7 Feb 2003, Dan Diephouse wrote: > > 4. Can ASF Projects use Sun BCL licensed products? > > Yes, but ASF can't distribute them. >
Each product you download from Sun's java.sun.com web site has a license that you have to agree to in order to download that JAR. In the case of several commonly useful packages (including, for example, JavaMail, JAF, and the JDBC 2.0 optional package (jdbc20ext.jar)), the license terms allow you to redistribute the JAR under a set of conditions that you need to agree to by accepting the license agreement -- the fundamental issue that affects this discussion is that you cannot distribute it *separately*. (See the individual licenses for other requirements.) Including such JARs in a product, like Tomcat or James (for example) do, is fine. Checking them in to an Apache CVS repository is not fine (because it is then available individually to anyone with CVS access; given that Apache repositories offer anonymous CVS access to anyone who follows the instructions, that is clearly a problem). Note that it is perfectly acceptable for *you* (as someone who wants to build a package that includes the Sun JARs whose license allows redistribution) to download your own copy of these packages (after agreeing to the license terms), and include them in the distributions of your own package. If you are using an automated build tool, you should configure it to utilize repositories where you are satisfied that *your* compliance with license requirements is appropriately dealt with. If you have any questions on the terms of the Sun BCL license for a particular package, and how they apply to you, go to the appropriate download page, such as: http://java.sun.com/products/javamail/ and click the download link. Then *read* the terms and conditions of the license agreement that is displayed, rather than just blindly accepting it, or believing what anyone else says about it. We are all responsible for our own behavior, and ignorance of the requirements is not a legally defensible excuse. > Dan Diephouse Craig McClanahan PS: You should note that Apache Software Foundation downloads are subject to a license, just like downloads from most software providers. In the case of Apache-originated packages, the license is the Apache Software License, Version 1.1 -- a copy of which can be found at: http://www.apache.org/LICENSE Just because the terms of this license give you lots of latitude in how you use the software you download does *not* absolve you from meeting the requirements that are outlined there. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
