Re: Is this what Stefan Esser was referring to ...?

Roman Neuhauser wrote: > # greg@chiaraquartet.net / 2007-01-23 08:59:46 -0600: > >> Roman Neuhauser wrote: >> >>> php.net distributes programs that violate the PHP license: e. g. PHPUnit >>> or PHPDocumentor (see http://pecl.php.net). If php.net >>> is ok with >>> ignoring the license terms (and has been for several years), does the >>> license still mean sh!t? >>> >> Um wrong, phpDocumentor *EXPLICITLY* wrote php group and asked for >> permission to use php when we first switched to the php license years >> ago. Get your facts straight before posting rumors. >> > > If I recall the discussions from several years ago correctly, the provisions > to protect "PHP" were meant to prevent proliferation of programs written in PHP > and called PHPthis of ThatPHP. So even if a special deal has allowed you to > use "PHP" to endorse or promote PHPDocumentor, it is against the spirit of the > license if not against the letter. > > I'd like to get permission to use PHP in the name of my MuchBetterDocumentor, > where do I apply? ;) > http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php#5 Hi, If you would take a look at section 3 and 4 of http://php.net/license/3_01.txt 3. The name "PHP" must not be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without prior written permission. For written permission, please contact group@php.net. 4. Products derived from this software may not be called "PHP", nor may "PHP" appear in their name, without prior written permission from group@php.net. You may indicate that your software works in conjunction with PHP by saying "Foo for PHP" instead of calling it "PHP Foo" or "phpfoo" Note "without prior written permission." Also note you need only call MuchBetterDocumentor "MuchBetterDocumentor for PHP" or get written permission to call it "PHPMuchBetterDocumentor". This all assumes you're using the PHP License. The same restrictions just don't apply to other licenses. Trademark infringement is another story, and since you didn't raise that, I will address that in my reply to the person who did. The text of the Open Source Initiative definition of Open Source is very clear in this regard. The section you quoted requires that no persons are excluded. 5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons. The PHP License naming requirement does not exclude any persons, it only requires that products using "PHP" in the name either receive permission, or change the name of the software. It is also not a "special deal," I simply wrote an email to group@php.net (as the license says to do) and asked for permission. If you have a problem with this, please suggest a revision to the PHP License, otherwise what would you like me to do? Change the name of phpDocumentor because of some personal vendetta you have against the php group or against me? Thanks, Greg