"Jesper" == Jesper Nørgaard <jnorgard@prodigy.net.mx> writes:
Jesper> Quote:
Personally I'd hate for the tzcode (or data) to have any kind of licence.
Jesper> Is there any reason we can't just state in the tzdata as well Jesper> as the tzcode that this data is in the public domain? Whether Jesper> this is equivalent with a license of copyright or not is only Jesper> a concern if there is a scenario we want to avoid (person X Jesper> claims copyright of the tz data unrightfully). I don't see Jesper> that happen. But I am not an IP expert. The problem is that the IP status of this material isn't a matter of opinion, it's a question of fact. If it's a work of a U.S. Government employee, then it's in the public domain. If it's a "sweat of the brow" compilation of public domain data, then it also is in the public domain. Otherwise, it is subject to copyright of the authors. If so, then a license can be put in place, or the material can be released into the public domain, but that would have to be done by agreement of the authors. My personal guess is that the first alternative applies. But that's a guess, and it's not my call. That's why I asked for an authoritative answer -- which I believe has to come from ADO since he's the lead contributor. It may well be that getting this answer requires navigating through red tape. Arthur, is it possible to get this? You already made the statement "there is no license" which sounds a bit like "it's in the public domain" but it doesn't actually say that. If you meant public domain, could you say so? paul