Ted: Carnegie Mellon University has no IP claims on the AFS sources. All IP rights to AFS are property of IBM. In 2000, IBM published the AFS sources for use by third parties under the IBM Public License 1.0. This is the license agreement that covers the original distribution from IBM and contributions to OpenAFS that modify IBM originated modules.
The IBMPL1.0 explicitly states that it is not viral. In other words, shipping an independently developed module with code governed by the IBMPL1.0 does not require the use of the IBMPL1.0 for the independent modules. Additional code has been accepted over the last twelve years using the MIT, UMich, and BSD licenses. The copyright on contributions to OpenAFS belongs to the "Author" as listed in the source code repository. Copyright holders are permitted to provide YFSI alternate licensing for source code modules not derived from IBM's original contribution. More than 50% of the code contributions to OpenAFS since IBM OpenAFS 1.0 was authored by a YFSI principal. The IBMPL1.0 explicitly addresses patent rights. The other form of IP involved is trademark law. YFSI will not violate IBM's "AFS" trademark. New software modules such as rxgk and the Windows file system redirector are independently developed and are not derivatives of OpenAFS. They are not governed by the IBMPL1.0. If you have questions about how the applicable licensing works, I suggest that you contact an intellectual property attorney. Jeffrey Altman On 10/1/2012 1:21 PM, Ted Creedon wrote: > The IP (intellectual property) in YFS seems to be derived from AFS's IP. > > If that case can be made, IBM or any other entity could force YFS back > into the open source domain. > > The "look and feel" of YFS may also be a problem - see "Broderbund" or > better yet their attorney's web page. > > http://www.quinnemanuel.com/attorneys/stern-claude-m.aspx > > My direct experience is from a dispute Tektronix had with ParcPlace over > Smalltalk licensing back in the '80's. > > AFS may be able to claim infringement against other file systems because > of its prior art (but its unpatented?). > > Which brings up a point, has IBM or CMU protected AFS's IP in any way? > > Tedc >
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