Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] OSS License - Please Review

[Warren Greenway <opensourcesub@yahoo.com>]

Thanks for you input Jeff. The license really is
important, since we must protect all contributors as
well as guarantee the "open-ness" of the design(s).
Thjis has some pretty exciting ideas for hull and
general layout that are bringing a sense of urgency
to the license issue, at least in my mind. I certainly
don't want anyone to feel that they are contributing
to a black hole. 

Warren.

--- Michael Wright <mwright@smallip.com> wrote:
> Jeff Wrote:
>  > After scanning the license agreement, I don't see
> how it provides any
>  > protections for people who are working
> essentially as amateur 
> engineers (please
>  > don't take that the wrong way).
> 
> I think the way we get around this is to include an
> "Invariant Section" 
> that is basically the un-warrenty clause from the
> BSD Software License. 
>   Change "Software" to "Plans, Documentation, or
> Software" and poof we 
> have the same level of protection the regents of the
> University of 
> California's lawyers thought reasonable for their
> computer operating system.
> 
> The text of said clause is at the end and is
> available here:
> http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license.php
> 
> Thanks Warren and everyone else for all the work
> you've put into the OSS 
> Project.  Now that I've parted ways with DOER I have
> less concern about 
> what I write relating in some way to the work done
> by my employer (their 
> concern).
> 
> 
> Begin Warrenty Clause of BSD License:
> THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS
> AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS 
> IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
> INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED 
> TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
> FITNESS FOR A 
> PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL
> THE COPYRIGHT OWNER 
> OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
> INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, 
> EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
> NOT LIMITED TO, 
> PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
> USE, DATA, OR 
> PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED
> AND ON ANY THEORY OF 
> LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR
> TORT (INCLUDING 
> NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF
> THE USE OF THIS 
> SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
> DAMAGE.
> 
> Jeff Post wrote:
> 
> > Hi All,
> > 
> > After scanning the license agreement, I don't see
> how it provides any
> > protections for people who are working essentially
> as amateur engineers (please
> > don't take that the wrong way). This license is
> essentially an open source
> > software license adapted for documentation. Yes,
> the OSS designs are documents,
> > but if someone takes this design, and dies because
> of a shortcoming in the
> > design, I don't think this license is going to
> protect anyone. I also don't
> > think that you will be afforded any protection
> because you are providing the
> > plans free.
> > 
> > When you (or I, or someone else) designs a sub for
> ourselves, builds it, and
> > gets into trouble, we have no one to blame but 
> ourselves. When someone else
> > takes your design and builds it, and gets into
> trouble, I guarantee you will be
> > sued into oblivion.
> > 
> > I don't think that the OSS design should be
> distributed as if they are plans. I
> > think that someone ought to create a website
> documenting the OSS collaboration.
> > The site should clearly state "don't do this at
> home". Later (hopefully) the
> > site could document someone building the OSS, and
> then testing. What I'm saying
> > is the website is more of a documentary than an
> endorsement.
> > 
> > JP
> > 
> > 
> > Quoting Warren Greenway <opensourcesub@yahoo.com>:
> > 
> > 
> >>This is a link to the license recommended by the
> Free
> >>Software Foundation. Please spend a moment to
> review
> >>the license (If you consider yourself part of the
> OSS
> >>Project), and provide me with feedback concerning 
> >>suitability. This license would provide us with a 
> >>reasonable level of legal coverage for the design.
> >>http://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl.txt
> >>
> >>Warren.
> >>opensourcesub@yahoo.com
> >>
> >>
> >>__________________________________
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> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 


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