[Linux-aus] [Fwd: APSL 2.0 is a Free Software License]

[Stewart Smith]

You may have already read it on slashdot, but here it is. This does
sound pretty promising, and follows on from (infomal) conversations I've
had with a variety of Apple people indicating that the company does want
to be more Open Source (but there's just X many hours in a day to get
everything polished to release). I heard that there's also this "little
issue of Pather".... :)

-----Forwarded Message-----
> From: Ernest Prabhakar <prabhaka at apple.com>
> To: publicsource-announce at lists.apple.com
> Subject: APSL 2.0 is a Free Software License
> Date: 06 Aug 2003 09:27:25 -0700
> 
> Hello everyone,
> 
> The Darwin team at Apple is pleased to announce that version 2.0 of the 
> Apple Public Source License, which includes numerous changes to make it 
> even easier for Open Source developers to use and comply with, has been 
> certified as conforming to the definition of a "Free Software License" 
> [1]. To access source code under the terms of APSL 2.0, you can now use 
> your new or existing "Apple ID", rather than needing a separate Darwin 
> account [2].
> 
> Additional information about APSL 2.0 and changes to source code access 
> are below, with full details available at 
> <http://www.opensource.apple.com/news/2.0-announce.html>.
> 
> If you have any questions, please contact us at 
> admin at opensource.apple.com.
> 
> Sincerely,
> The Darwin Team at Apple
> 
> [1] Apple Public Source License 2.0 now a "Free Software License"
> 
> Apple is pleased to announce the 2.0 version of the Apple Public Source 
> License. It improves upon the OSI-approved APSL 1.2 by conforming to 
> the definition of Free Software Licenses 
> <www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html>, as certified by the Free 
> Software Foundation:
> 
> Excerpted from the FSF web site:
> "The Apple Public Source License (APSL) version 2.0 qualifies as a Free 
> Software License. In version 2.0 of the APSL, the definition of 
> "Externally Deployed" has been narrowed in a way that is appropriate 
> for the respect of users' freedoms. The APSL 2.0, like the Affero GPL, 
> seeks to defend the freedom of those who use software in these novel 
> ways, without unduly hindering the users' privacy nor freedom to use 
> the software."
> 
> We are grateful to Richard Stallman for his many helpful comments in 
> this process. APSL 2.0 is also being submitted to the Open Source 
> Initiative <http://www.opensource.org/licenses/index.php> to certify 
> its continued compliance with the Open Source Definition.
> 
> The Apple Public Source License 2.0 includes numerous changes to make 
> it even easier for Open Source developers to use and comply with, 
> including:
> 
>   * Source distribution is only required for "External Deployment", 
> allowing individuals and corporations to do private internal 
> deployments
> 
>   * An option to distribute source only to those receiving binaries, 
> rather than always having to distribute to the general public
> 
>   * Simpler, clearer, and more symmetric licensing terms
> 
> The full text of the APSL is available from the following locations:
> 
>   * http://www.opensource.apple.com/apsl/2.0.txt (full text)
>   * http://www.opensource.apple.com/apsl/2.0-redline.pdf (diffs from 1.2)
> 
> More details are available at 
> <http://www.opensource.apple.com/news/2.0-announce.html>.
> 
> [2] Open Source now accessible using Apple IDs
> 
> The Darwin team is pleased to announce that we are now using Apple IDs 
> to indicate acceptance of the terms of the Apple Public Source License 
> 2.0. Now the same Apple ID you use for Apple Developer Connection, the 
> AppleCare Knowledge Base, the Apple Store, the iTunes Music Store, or 
> your .Mac account may be used to view and download APSL-licensed Darwin 
> source code. Additionally, you may update your contact information via 
> <myinfo.apple.com> or request a reminder for your password from 
> <iforgot.apple.com>. If you don't already have an Apple ID, please 
> obtain one at <signin.apple.com> by clicking the "New Account" button.
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> 
-- 
Stewart Smith (stewart at linux.org.au)
Vice President, Linux Australia