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Re: CeCILL license : Free Software License for french research



Lucas Nussbaum wrote:
> On Tue, Jul 06, 2004 at 11:24:29PM +0200, Florian Weimer <fw@deneb.enyo.de> wrote:
> 
>>* Lucas Nussbaum:
>>>IANAL, but the license[4] look quite ok for me, even if the part about
>>>GPL compatibility seems a bit unclear.
>>
>>It looks like a fallback close similar to the LGPL.  My french is
>>rusty, though, I shouldn't try to interpret contracts. 8->
>  
> Alex Hudson <home@alexhudson.com> was able to find the english version
> of the license. It's here :
> 
> http://www.inria.fr/valorisation/logiciels/Licence.CeCILL-V1.US.pdf

For ease of quoting and commentary, here is a text version, converted
using pdftotext along with some manual reformatting.

- Josh Triplett


FREE SOFTWARE LICENSING AGREEMENT CeCILL

Notice
This Agreement is a free software license that is the result of
discussions between its authors in order to ensure compliance with the
two main principles guiding its drafting:

- firstly, its conformity with French law, both as regards the law of
torts and intellectual property law, and the protection that it offers
to authors and the holders of economic rights over software.

- secondly, compliance with the principles for the distribution of free
software: access to source codes, extended user-rights.

The following bodies are the authors of the license CeCILL1:

Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique --­ CEA, a public scientific,
technical and industrial establishment, having its principal place of
business at 31-33 rue de la Fédération, 75752 PARIS cedex 15.

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique --­ CNRS, a public
scientific and technological establishment, having its principal place
of business at 3 rue Michel-Ange 75794 Paris cedex 16.

Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique --­
INRIA, a public scientific and technological establishment, having its
principal place of business at Domaine de Voluceau, Rocquencourt, BP
105, 78153 Le Chesnay cedex.

1
Ce: CEA, C: CNRS, I: INRIA, LL: Logiciel Libre

Version 1 of 06/21/2004

CeCILL License

PREAMBLE

The purpose of this Free Software Licensing Agreement is to grant users
the right to modify and redistribute the software governed by this
license within the framework of an "open source" distribution model.

The exercising of these rights is conditional upon certain obligations
for users so as to ensure that this status is retained for subsequent
redistribution operations.

Nevertheless, access to the source code, and the resulting rights to
copy, modify and redistribute only provide users with a limited warranty
and the software's author, the holder of the economic rights, and the
successive licensors only have limited liability.

In this respect, the user's attention is drawn to the risks associated
with loading, using, modifying and/or developing or reproducing the
software by the user in light of its specific status of free software,
that may mean that it is complicated to manipulate, and that also
therefore means that it is reserved for developers and experienced
professionals having in-depth IT knowledge. Users are therefore
encouraged to load and test the Software's suitability as regards their
requirements in conditions enabling the security of their systems and/or
data to be ensured and, more generally, to use and operate it in the
same conditions as regards security. This Agreement may be freely
reproduced and published, provided it is not altered, and that no
Articles are either added or removed herefrom.

This Agreement may apply to any or all software for which the holder of
the economic rights decides to submit the operation thereof to its
provisions.

2

Version 1 of 06/21/2004

CeCILL License

Article 1 --­ DEFINITION

For the purposes of this Agreement, when the following expressions
commence with a capital letter, they shall have the following meaning:

Agreement: means this Licensing Agreement, and any or all of its
subsequent versions.

Software: means the software in its Object Code and/or Source Code form
and, where applicable, its documentation, "as is" at the time when the
Licensee accepts the Agreement.

Initial Software: means the Software in its Source Code and/or Object
Code form and, where applicable, its documentation, "as is" at the time
when it is distributed for the first time under the terms and conditions
of the Agreement.

Modified Software: means the Software modified by at least one Contribution.

Source Code: means all the Software's instructions and program lines to
which access is required so as to modify the Software.

Object Code: means the binary files originating from the compilation of
the Source Code.

Holder: means the holder of the economic copyright over the Initial
Software.

Licensee(s): mean(s) the Software user(s) having accepted the Agreement.

Contributor: means a Licensee having made at least one Contribution.

Licensor: means the Holder, or any or all other individual or legal
entity, that distributes the Software under the Agreement.

Contributions: mean any or all modifications, corrections, translations,
adaptations and/or new functionalities integrated into the Software by
any or all Contributor, and the Static Modules.

Module: means a set of sources files including their documentation that,
once compiled in executable form, enables supplementary functionalities
or services to be developed in addition to those offered by the Software.

3

Dynamic Module: means any or all module, created by the Contributor,
that is independent of the Software, so that this module and the
Software are in two different executable forms that are run in separate
address spaces, with one calling the other when they are run.

Static Module: means any or all module, created by the Contributor and
connected to the Software by a static link that makes their object codes
interdependent. This module and the Software to which it is connected,
are combined in a single executable.

Parties: mean both the Licensee and the Licensor.

These expressions may be used both in singular and plural form.

Article 2 --­ PURPOSE

The purpose of the Agreement is to enable the Licensor to grant the
Licensee, non-exclusive, transferable and worldwide License for the
Software as set forth in Article 5 hereinafter for the whole term of
protection of the rights over said Software.

Article 3 --­ ACCEPTANCE

3.1. The Licensee shall be deemed as having accepted the terms and
conditions of this Agreement by the occurrence of the first of the
following events:

- (i) loading the Software by any or all means, notably, by downloading
from a remote server, or by loading from a physical medium;

- (ii) the first time the Licensee exercises any of the rights granted
hereunder.

3.2. One copy of the Agreement, containing a notice relating to the
specific nature of the Software, to the limited warranty, and to the
limitation to use by experienced users has been provided to the Licensee
prior to its acceptance as set forth in Article 3.1 hereinabove, and the
Licensee hereby acknowledges that it is aware thereof.

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CeCILL License

Article 4 --­ EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM

4.1. EFFECTIVE DATE

The Agreement shall become effective on the date
when it is accepted by the Licensee as set forth in Article 3.1.

4.2. TERM

The Agreement shall remain in force during the whole legal term of
protection of the economic rights over the Software.

Article 5 --­ SCOPE OF THE RIGHTS GRANTED

The Licensor hereby grants to the Licensee, that accepts such, the
following rights as regards the Software for any or all use, and for the
term of the Agreement, on the basis of the terms and conditions set
forth hereinafter.

Otherwise, the Licensor grants to the Licensee free of charge
exploitation rights on the patents he holds on whole or part of the
inventions implemented in the Software.

5.1. RIGHTS OF USE

The Licensee is authorized to use the Software, unrestrictedly, as
regards the fields of application, with it being hereinafter specified
that this relates to :

* permanent or temporary reproduction of all or part of the Software by
any or all means and in any or all form.

* loading, displaying, running, or storing the Software on any or all
medium.

* entitlement to observe, study or test the operation thereof so as to
establish the ideas and principles that form the basis for any or all
constituent elements of said Software. This shall apply when the
Licensee carries out any or all loading, displaying, running,
transmission or storage operation as regards the Software, that it is
entitled to carry out hereunder.

5.2. ENTITLEMENT TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS

The right to make Contributions includes the right to translate, adapt,
arrange, or make any or all modification to the Software, and the right
to reproduce the resulting Software.

The Licensee is authorized to make any or all Contribution to the
Software provided that it explicitly mentions its name as the author of
said Contribution and the date of the development thereof.

4

5.3. DISTRIBUTION AND PUBLICATION RIGHTS

In particular, the right of distribution and publication includes the
right to transmit and communicate the Software to the general public on
any or all medium, and by any or all means, and the right to market,
either in consideration of a fee, or free of charge, a copy or copies of
the Software by means of any or all process.

The Licensee is further authorized to redistribute copies of the
modified or unmodified Software to third parties according to the terms
and conditions set forth hereinafter.

5.3.1. REDISTRIBUTION OF SOFTWARE WITHOUT MODIFICATION

The Licensee is authorized to redistribute true copies of the Software
in Source Code or Object Code form, provided that said redistribution
complies with all the provisions of the Agreement and is accompanied by:

* a copy of the Agreement

* a notice relating to the limitation of both the Licensor's warranty
and liability as set forth in Articles 8 and 9,

and that, in the event that only the Software's Object Code is
redistributed, the Licensee allows future Licensees unhindered access to
the Software's full Source Code by providing them with the terms and
conditions for access thereto, it being understood that the additional
cost of acquiring the Source Code shall not exceed the cost of
transferring the data.

5.3.2. REDISTRIBUTION OF MODIFIED SOFTWARE

When the Licensee makes a Contribution to the Software, the terms and
conditions for the redistribution of the Modified Software shall then be
subject to all the provisions hereof.

The Licensee is authorized to redistribute the Modified Software, in
Source Code or Object Code form, provided that said redistribution
complies with all the provisions of the Agreement and is accompanied by:

* a copy of the Agreement

* a notice relating to the limitation of both the Licensor's warranty
and liability as set forth in Articles 8 and 9,

and that, in the event that only the Modified Software's Object Code is
redistributed, the Licensee allows future Licensees unhindered access to
the Modified Software's full Source Code by providing them with the
terms and

Version 1 of 06/21/2004

CeCILL License

conditions for access thereto, it being understood that the additional
cost of acquiring the Source Code shall not exceed the cost of
transferring the data.

5.3.3. REDISTRIBUTION OF DYNAMIC MODULES

When the Licensee has developed a Dynamic Module, the terms and
conditions hereof do not apply to said Dynamic Module, that may be
distributed under a separate Licensing Agreement.

5.3.4. COMPATIBILITY WITH THE GPL LICENSE

In the event that the Modified or unmodified Software includes a code
that is subject to the provisions of the GPL License, the Licensee is
authorized to redistribute the whole under the GPL License.

In the event that the Modified Software includes a code that is subject
to the provisions of the GPL License, the Licensee is authorized to
redistribute the Modified Software under the GPL License.

Article 6 -- INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

6.1. OVER THE INITIAL SOFTWARE

The Holder owns the economic rights over the Initial Software. Any or
all use of the Initial Software is subject to compliance with the terms
and conditions under which the Holder has elected to distribute its work
and no one shall be entitled to modify the terms and conditions for the
distribution of said Initial Software.

The Holder undertakes to maintain the distribution of the Initial
Software under the conditions of the Agreement, for the duration set
forth in article 4.2.

6.2. OVER THE CONTRIBUTIONS

The intellectual property rights over the Contributions are attached to
the holder of the economic rights as designated by effective legislation.

6.3. OVER THE DYNAMIC MODULES

The Licensee having developed a Dynamic Module is the holder of the
intellectual property rights over said Dynamic Module and is free to
choose the agreement that shall govern its distribution.

5

6.4. JOINT PROVISIONS

6.4.1. The Licensee expressly undertakes:

* not to remove, or modify, in any or all manner, the intellectual
property notices affixed to the Software;

* to reproduce said notices, in an identical manner, in the copies of
the Software.

6.4.2. The Licensee undertakes not to directly or indirectly infringe
the intellectual property rights of the Holder and/or Contributors and
to take, where applicable, vis-à-vis its staff, any or all measures
required to ensure respect for said intellectual property rights of the
Holder and/or Contributors.

Article 7 - RELATED SERVICES

7.1. Under no circumstances shall the Agreement oblige the Licensor to
provide technical assistance or maintenance services for the Software.

However, the Licensor is entitled to offer this type of service. The
terms and conditions of such technical assistance, and/or such
maintenance, shall then be set forth in a separate instrument. Only the
Licensor offering said maintenance and/or technical assistance services
shall incur liability therefor.

7.2. Similarly, any or all Licensor shall be entitled to offer to its
Licensees, under its own responsibility, a warranty, that shall only be
binding upon itself, for the redistribution of the Software and/or the
Modified Software, under terms and conditions that it shall decide upon
itself. Said warranty, and the financial terms and conditions of its
application, shall be subject to a separate instrument executed between
the Licensor and the Licensee.

Article 8 -- LIABILITY

8.1. Subject to the provisions of Article 8.2, should the Licensor fail
to fulfill all or part of its obligations hereunder, the Licensee shall
be entitled to claim compensation for the direct loss suffered that it
is able to justify, subject to providing proof of negligence by the
Licensor in question.

8.2. The Licensor's liability is limited to the commitments made under
this Agreement and shall not be incurred as a result , in particular :
(i) of loss due the Licensee's total or

Version 1 of 06/21/2004

CeCILL License

partial failure to fulfill its obligations, (ii) direct or consequential
loss due to the Software's use or performance that is suffered by the
Licensee, when the latter is a professional using said Software for
professional purposes and (iii) consequential loss due to the Software's
use or performance.  The Parties expressly agree that any or all
pecuniary or business loss (i.e. loss of data, loss of profits,
operating loss, loss of customers or orders, opportunity cost, any
disturbance to business activities) or any or all legal proceedings
instituted against the Licensee by a third party, shall constitute
consequential loss and shall not provide entitlement to any or all
compensation from the Licensor.

Article 9 -- WARRANTY

9.1. The Licensee acknowledges that the current situation as regards
scientific and technical know-how at the time when the Software was
distributed did not enable all possible uses to be tested and verified,
nor for the presence of any or all faults to be detected. In this
respect, the Licensee's attention has been drawn to the risks associated
with loading, using, modifying and/or developing and reproducing the
Software that are reserved for experienced users.

The Licensee shall be responsible for verifying, by any or all means,
the product's suitability for its requirements, its due and proper
functioning, and for ensuring that it shall not cause damage to either
persons or property.

9.2. The Licensor hereby represents, in good faith,
that it is entitled to grant all the rights on the software (including
in particular the rights set forth in Article 5).

9.3. The Licensee acknowledges that the Software is supplied "as is" by
the Licensor without any or all other express or tacit warranty, other
than that provided for in Article 9.2 and, in particular, without any or
all warranty as to its market value, its securised, innovative or
relevant nature.

Specifically, the Licensor does not warrant that the Software is free
from any or all error, that it shall operate continuously, that it shall
be compatible with the Licensee's own equipment and its software
configuration, nor that it shall meet the Licensee's requirements.

9.4. The Licensor does not either expressly or tacitly warrant that the
Software does not infringe any or all third party intellectual right
relating to a patent, software or to

6

any or all other property right. Moreover, the Licensor shall not hold
the Licensee harmless against any or all proceedings for infringement
that may be instituted in respect of the use, modification and
redistribution of the Software.

Nevertheless, should such proceedings be instituted against the
Licensee, the Licensor shall provide it with technical and legal
assistance for its defense. Such technical and legal assistance shall be
decided upon on a case-by-case basis between the relevant Licensor and
the Licensee pursuant to a memorandum of understanding. The Licensor
disclaims any or all liability as regards the Licensee's use of the
Software's name. No warranty shall be provided as regards the existence
of prior rights over the name of the Software and as regards the
existence of a trademark.

Article 10 -- TERMINATION

10.1. In the event of a breach by the Licensee of its obligations
hereunder, the Licensor may automatically terminate this Agreement
thirty (30) days after notice has been sent to the Licensee and has
remained ineffective.

10.2. The Licensee whose Agreement is terminated shall no longer be
authorized to use, modify or distribute the Software. However, any or
all licenses that it may have granted prior to termination of the
Agreement shall remain valid subject to their having been granted in
compliance with the terms and conditions hereof.

Article 11 -- MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

11.1. EXCUSABLE EVENTS

Neither Party shall be liable for any or all delay, or failure to
perform the Agreement, that may be attributable to an event of force
majeure, an act of God or an outside cause, such as, notably, defective
functioning, or interruptions affecting the electricity or
telecommunications networks, blocking of the network following a virus
attack, the intervention of the government authorities, natural
disasters, water damage, earthquakes, fire, explosions, strikes and
labor unrest, war, etc.

11.2. The fact that either Party may fail, on one or several occasions,
to invoke one or several of the provisions hereof, shall under no
circumstances be interpreted as being a

Version 1 of 06/21/2004

CeCILL License

waiver by the interested Party of its entitlement to invoke said
provision(s) subsequently.

11.3. The Agreement cancels and replaces any or all previous agreement,
whether written or oral, between the Parties and having the same
purpose, and constitutes the entirety of the agreement between said
Parties concerning said purpose. No supplement or modification to the
terms and conditions hereof shall be effective as regards the Parties
unless it is made in writing and signed by their duly authorized
representatives.

11.4. In the event that one or several of the provisions hereof were to
conflict with a current or future applicable act or legislative text,
said act or legislative text shall take precedence, and the Parties
shall make the necessary amendments so as to be in compliance with said
act or legislative text. All the other provisions shall remain
effective. Similarly, the fact that a provision of the Agreement may be
null and void, for any reason whatsoever, shall not cause the Agreement
as a whole to be null and void.

11.5. LANGUAGE

The Agreement is drafted in both French and English. In the event of a
conflict as regards construction, the French version shall be deemed
authentic.

Article 12 -- NEW VERSIONS OF THE AGREEMENT

12.1. Any or all person is authorized to duplicate and distribute copies
of this Agreement.

12.2. So as to ensure coherence, the wording of this Agreement is
protected and may only be modified by the authors of the License, that
reserve the right to periodically publish updates or new versions of the
Agreement, each with a separate number. These subsequent versions may
incorporate new problems encountered by the free software.

12.3. Any or all Software distributed under a given version of the
Agreement may only be subsequently distributed under the same version of
the Agreement or a subsequent version, subject to the provisions of
article 5.3.4.

Article 13 --­ GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTIO

 13.1. The Agreement is governed by French law. The Parties agree to
endeavor to settle the disagreements or

7

disputes that may arise during the performance of the Agreement
out-of-court.

13.2. In the absence of an out-of-court settlement within two (2) months
as from their occurrence, and unless emergency proceedings are
necessary, the disagreements or disputes shall be referred to the Paris
Courts having jurisdiction, by the first Party to take action.

Version 1 of 06/21/2004

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