Licenses

Preface

Open source is about providing a process by which the most rapid evolution of logically correct code can occur. It's about transparency, it's about peer review, and freedom. MindTouch, Inc. provides MindTouch and Dream to the public under three of the most commonly used free software licenses.

MindTouch

MindTouch Core is covered by the GNU General Public License Agreement (GPL). Here is a locally republished copy of the GPL v2. If you want more information on the GPL or the pillars that gird our belief in open source visit: Open Source Initiative, or the Free Software Foundation.  Parts of MindTouch that are used to build new components--mindtouch.deki.script and mindtouch.deki.ext--are covered by the GNU Lesser General Public License Agreement (LGPL). Here is a locally republished copy of the LGPL v2.

Dream

MindTouch Dream is covered by the Apache License (AL) starting with v1.5.6. Here is a locally republished copy of the AL v2. Prior versions are covered by the GNU Lesser General Public License Agreement (LGPL). Here is a locally republished copy of the LGPL v2.

Misc

Some other components fall under the Debian Free Software Guidelines, which can be read about here.

Distribution

MindTouch interprets both the GPL and LGPL in a manner commensurate with what is widely accepted as the intent of the licenses with respect to distribution over a network. Specifically, if the program as you received it is intended to interact with users through a computer network and if, in the version you received, any user interacting with the Program was given the opportunity to request transmission to that user of the Program's complete source code, you must not remove that facility from your modified version of the Program or work based on the Program, and must offer an equivalent opportunity for all users interacting with your Program through a computer network to request immediate transmission by HTTP of the complete source code of your modified version or other derivative work.

Portions of the above clause is taken verbatim from the Affero GPL, which is a GPL derivative. Why are we publicly making this statement of interpretation? Well, as you may or may not know, there are a plethora of companies that take open source software, create derivative works from it, and host the software. These companies think that because they are hosting the software and providing it as a service they are not distributing it, which means they are not obliged to release their derivative work back to the community. This is clearly not aligned with the spirit or intent of the licenses. Things have changed dramatically from the days of compiled code running locally. Today software often exists in the cloud and the users' interactions are just as rich as the days of locally executed compiled code. With the Web as a platform it seems obvious to us at MindTouch that distribution extends beyond providing a copy of the software on a floppy disk.

This interpretation is provided as more of a commitment to our users than it is as a mandate to other developers. We encourage you, as with all things we do, to share your opinions on this topic. We've provided a space in the forum for discussion.