
The Python Software Foundation License (PSFL) is a
BSD-style,
permissive software license
A permissive software license, sometimes also called BSD-like or BSD-style license, is a free-software license which instead of copyleft protections, carries only minimal restrictions on how the software can be used, modified, and redistributed, ...
which is
compatible with the
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public Licenses (GNU GPL or simply GPL) are a series of widely used free software licenses, or ''copyleft'' licenses, that guarantee end users the freedom to run, study, share, or modify the software. The GPL was the first ...
(GPL).
Its primary use is for distribution of the
Python project software and its documentation.
Since the license is
permissive, it allows
proprietization of the
derivations. The PSFL is listed as approved on both
FSF's approved licenses list,
[ and OSI's approved licenses list.
This license is also known as "Python License 2.0.1".
In 2000, Python ''(specifically version 2.1)'' was briefly available under the Python License, which is incompatible with the GPL. The reason given for this incompatibility by ]Free Software Foundation
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Richard Stallman on October 4, 1985. The organisation supports the free software movement, with the organization's preference for software being distributed ...
was that "''this Python license is governed by the laws of the 'State of Virginia', in the USA''", which the GPL does not permit.
Guido van Rossum, Python's creator, was awarded the 2001 Free Software Foundation Award for the Advancement of Free Software for changing the license to fix this incompatibility.
See also
* Python Software Foundation
The Python Software Foundation (PSF) is an American nonprofit organization devoted to the Python programming language, launched on March 6, 2001. The mission of the foundation is to foster development of the Python community and is responsible fo ...
* Software using the Python Software Foundation license (category)
References
External links
The Python Software Foundation License
Free and open-source software licenses
Python (programming language)
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