Re: non-English copyright
>>>>> "Atsuhito" == Atsuhito Kohda <kohda@pm.tokushima-u.ac.jp> writes:
Atsuhito> Hello all, this may be disturbing for most of you but I
Atsuhito> would like some of you will check the following rough
Atsuhito> translations of copyrights from Japanese to English as I
Atsuhito> wrote in former email.
Where can I get a copy of the original Japanese copyright so I
can check it against your English? :)
Atsuhito> (1. will be non-free) Distribution:
Atsuhito> Unless you delete the necessary files or modify them you
Atsuhito> can distribute and/or use freely.
I'm not sure what the original Japanese was here, but this doesn't
make very much sense in English. I think this is what you meant,
though:
"You can distribute and use this software freely as long as you do
not delete or modify the files contained within."
Atsuhito> You can not distribute or use the program for
Atsuhito> commercial purpose.
Here I would suggest "may" instead of "can" (this is a mistake
many English speakers make too, actually!) -- "may" means "you
have permission". "can" means "you are able to do". The difference
is subtle, but important.
"You may not distribute or use this program for commercial purposes."
Atsuhito> If you find bugs and you need to modify the program to
Atsuhito> fix them, please contact the author. If you add new
Atsuhito> functionality to the program please contact the author
Atsuhito> to confirm where you modify and after modified please
Atsuhito> notify the author where you modified.
The second sentence should be more like:
"If you add new functionality to the program, please contact
the author with information about what you modified and where."
Atsuhito> You can not distribute the modified version to prevent
Atsuhito> the disorder with derivative versions.
Here, I would use "confusion" instead of "disorder", and I would
put the reason why you may not distribute the modified version
first:
"To prevent confusion with derivative versions, you may not distribute
a modified version of this program."
Atsuhito> 1. foo is provided "AS IS" and any express or implied
Atsuhito> warranties are disclaimed. In no event shall the author
Atsuhito> and the organization the author belongs to, be liable
Atsuhito> for any damages arising in any way out of the use of
Atsuhito> foo. 2. You can redistribute foo freely provided you
Atsuhito> retain this copyright. 3. You can modify foo and use it
Atsuhito> freely. But you can not distribute the modified version
Atsuhito> without the permission of the author. You must contact
Atsuhito> the author.
Here, again, I would use "may" everywhere you used "can". Everything
else is fine.
Atsuhito> You can contact the author at <someone@some.where.jp>
Atsuhito> when you report the bug and/or the modification.
I would combine this sentence with the previous one ('you must
contact the author') and say:
"You must contact the author at <someone@some.where.jp> to report
any bugs and/or modifications."
Atsuhito> 3. You can distribute the modified version only if the
Atsuhito> distribution of "patch files" with the source code for
Atsuhito> the purpose of modifying the program at build time.
"You may only distribute a modified version as a 'patch file' against
the original source code for the purposes of modifying the program
at build time."
Atsuhito> You can use, modify and redistribute the program without
Atsuhito> the permission of the author. In no event shall the
Atsuhito> author be liable for any damages arising in any way out
Atsuhito> of the use of the program.
(replace 'can' with 'may')
Atsuhito> Please send the bug reports and/or encouragements to the
Atsuhito> author: <someone@some.where.jp>
Change 'the bug reports' to just 'bug reports'. :)
Atsuhito> You can distribute freely "foo" and "foo1" unless you
Atsuhito> modify them.
"You may distribute 'foo' and 'foo1' freely unless you modify them."
Atsuhito> It is recommended to distribute as a whole but if not
Atsuhito> you must include this notice.
"It is recommended to distribute these programs as a whole but if
you do not, you must include this notice."
Atsuhito> There is no problem to separate "foo2" and "foo3" for
Atsuhito> they are independent from the rest.
"You may distribute 'foo2' and 'foo3' separately from the other
programs, as they are independent of the rest."
Atsuhito> You can distribute the modified version if you include
Atsuhito> the original copyright and if the program shows the
Atsuhito> message which tell the users the program is modified,
Atsuhito> for example, shows the special version number. You can
Atsuhito> use freely a part of the source files.
"You may distribute a modified version of this program if you include
the original copyright and the modified program displays a message
informing the user that the program is modified -- for example,
showing a special version number. You may use the source files
freely as a whole or in part."
I hope this helps!
Ben
--
Brought to you by the letters W and E and the number 6.
"Sculch is junk."
Debian GNU/Linux maintainer of Gimp and GTK+ -- http://www.debian.org/
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