From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.4 required=5.0 tests=AC_FROM_MANY_DOTS,BAYES_00 autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,c9bf6617358567a9 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2003-03-11 03:45:57 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!cyclone.bc.net!sjc70.webusenet.com!news.webusenet.com!newsfeed2.earthlink.net!newsfeed.earthlink.net!stamper.news.pas.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!harp.news.atl.earthlink.net!not-for-mail From: "Marin David Condic" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Commercial license? Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 06:45:45 -0500 Organization: MindSpring Enterprises Message-ID: References: <8E197C72ED293700.9CFD1DCB25CB0B4C.812DA03615AB7642@lp.airnews.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: d1.56.bb.9b X-Server-Date: 11 Mar 2003 11:45:57 GMT X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2314.1300 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300 Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:35178 Date: 2003-03-11T11:45:57+00:00 List-Id: Lots of contracts that are used every day - even in very large business transactions - are not written by lawyers. I'd hazzard a guess that most software licenses have not seen the inside of a law office either. Basically, its a way of defining an understanding between two parties and it doesn't always need a lawyer involved. Especially if the stakes aren't terribly high - which I suspect is the case for most of the software that is hanging around on the various web pages here. However, I would agree that if anyone has any serious software efforts at stake, getting a lawyer to review the license is a wise and prudent act. Lawyers won't guarantee you won't have any problems, but they sure will minimize those odds. I think Dr. Leif's ADCL was proposed as a matter for consideration and one that would presumably go through some itterations of refinement and commentary. I would imagine that if an Ada Developer's Cooperative were to be formed, it would need to consult an attorney concerning the provisions of its license. MDC -- ====================================================================== Marin David Condic I work for: http://www.belcan.com/ My project is: http://www.jsf.mil/ Send Replies To: m c o n d i c @ a c m . o r g "Going cold turkey isn't as delicious as it sounds." -- H. Simpson ====================================================================== John R. Strohm wrote in message news:8E197C72ED293700.9CFD1DCB25CB0B4C.812DA03615AB7642@lp.airnews.net... > LOOK, PEOPLE. > > A license is a LEGAL DOCUMENT. > > It is written in a language that superficially resembles English, but in > fact the resemblance stops there. > > A license MUST be drafted by a knowledgeable professional, with expertise in > the subject area. Doing anything else is foolhardy. > > The community here can provide input, state requirements and goals, and > participate in the discussion, but the actual work must be done by a > competent attorney. > > I'm a programmer, not a lawyer, and part of my education was learning that I > wasn't a lawyer and should consult one when it was appropriate.