[Pydispatcher-devel] Request regarding Python Software Foundation License...

[Mike C. F. <mcf...@ro...>]

Dear OSI board,

As you are no doubt aware, the Python Software Foundation License is an 
aglomeration of various licensing restrictions from various sources, 
rather than a coherent attempt to outline a particularly desirable set 
of rights and/or responsibilities.  The wording of the license is 
specific to the Python language, and has very little relevance to new 
software development.

However, Python developers, seeing "Python License" are beginning to use 
the license as though it were a desirable license for new Open Source 
development simply because it is associated with Python (despite the 4 
or 5 different licensors, and all the other rather ugly attributes of 
the Python Software Foundation License).  Certainly SourceForge must 
take some of the responsibility for this given that they include the PSF 
license in the list of available Open Source licenses during project 
registration, but I'm wondering if the OSI could work to avoid this 
effect as well.

Given that there are other licenses which embody the general terms of 
the Python license, I'm wondering if it would be reasonable to add notes 
to the Python Software Foundation License page on 
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/PythonSoftFoundation.php to the 
effect that the license is not particularly intended for reuse in other 
projects, possibly pointing the user to the BSD license, or even the 
Python CNRI license (as a subset of the PSF license).

For example:
	The Python Software Foundation License represents the historical 
interplay of interests in the Python language implementation.  It is not 
a license designed for reuse for other open source projects.  If you are 
considering a license for use with a new open source project, you may 
want to consider the BSD <link> or MIT <link> licenses.

With thanks for all your work,
Mike Fletcher

_______________________________________
   Mike C. Fletcher
   Designer, VR Plumber, Coder
   http://members.rogers.com/mcfletch/