Path: csiph.com!v102.xanadu-bbs.net!xanadu-bbs.net!feeder.erje.net!eu.feeder.erje.net!newsfeed.freenet.ag!news2.euro.net!newsgate.cistron.nl!newsgate.news.xs4all.nl!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail Return-Path: X-Original-To: python-list@python.org Delivered-To: python-list@mail.python.org X-Spam-Status: OK 0.001 X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 1.00; '*S*': 0.00; 'distributing': 0.07; 'gpl': 0.07; 'modify': 0.07; 'modifying': 0.07; 'puts': 0.07; 'pypi': 0.07; 'subject:code': 0.07; 'acceptance': 0.09; 'correct,': 0.09; 'subject:using': 0.09; 'works.': 0.09; 'attaching': 0.16; 'from:addr:torriem': 0.16; 'from:name:michael torrie': 0.16; 'janssen': 0.16; 'license.': 0.16; 'licenses,': 0.16; 'program),': 0.16; 'applies': 0.16; 'proprietary': 0.16; 'wrote:': 0.18; 'header:User-Agent:1': 0.23; 'package.': 0.24; '(or': 0.24; 'permission': 0.26; 'distribute': 0.26; 'header:In- Reply-To:1': 0.27; 'am,': 0.29; 'gives': 0.31; 'code': 0.31; 'too.': 0.31; 'purely': 0.31; 'not.': 0.33; 'except': 0.35; 'beyond': 0.35; 'so,': 0.37; 'message-id:@gmail.com': 0.38; 'actions': 0.38; 'to:addr:python-list': 0.38; 'legally': 0.39; 'to:addr:python.org': 0.39; 'received:org': 0.40; 'how': 0.40; 'even': 0.60; 'course': 0.61; 'protection': 0.63; 'pick': 0.64; 'therefore,': 0.64; 'granted': 0.65; 'license': 0.66; 'prohibited': 0.69; 'stated': 0.69; 'legal': 0.71 X-Virus-Scanned: amavisd-new at torriefamily.org Date: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 13:50:58 -0600 From: Michael Torrie User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux i686; rv:10.0.12) Gecko/20130105 Thunderbird/10.0.12 MIME-Version: 1.0 To: python-list@python.org Subject: Re: Re-using copyrighted code References: <51B450C1.5030506@berlin.de> In-Reply-To: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-BeenThere: python-list@python.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.15 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion list for the Python programming language List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Newsgroups: comp.lang.python Message-ID: Lines: 21 NNTP-Posting-Host: 2001:888:2000:d::a6 X-Trace: 1370807470 news.xs4all.nl 15872 [2001:888:2000:d::a6]:57929 X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:47484 On 06/09/2013 11:18 AM, Mark Janssen wrote: >> I understand that I have to pick a license for my package. > > You actually do not. Attaching a legal document is purely a secondary > protection from those who would take away right already granted by US > copyright. You are correct, except that the OP has already stated he wishes to have his code distributed. Without granting a license, the code cannot be distributed beyond the people he personally gives the code too. PyPi cannot legally allow others to download it without a license. Here's how the GPL puts it, and of course this applies to any and all licenses, even proprietary ones: "However, nothing else [besides the License] grants you permission to modify or distribute the Program or its derivative works. These actions are prohibited by law if you do not accept this License. Therefore, by modifying or distributing the Program (or any work based on the Program), you indicate your acceptance of this License to do so, and all its terms and conditions for copying..."