Re: License of Unicode tables

[Simon Josefsson]

Richard Stallman <address@hidden> writes:

>     But in any case -- is this a realistic problem?  Do we know of any
>     bugs in the file?
>
> The question is not relevant; we can't accept a non-free file
> on the grounds that its contents are perfect for its job.
> There may be a way to rescue the use of this file.
> I am looking into it.

Unicode 4.0.1 was just released.  The licensing terms has changed, and
if I'm locating the proper license terms for the data files (the files
themselves does not appear to include the license), it now reads as
below.  This is better, as it allows for redistribution of modified
copies, isn't it?


Copyright © 1991-2004 Unicode, Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed
under the Terms of Use in http://www.unicode.org/copyright.html.

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining
a copy of the Unicode data files and associated documentation (the
"Data Files") or Unicode software and associated documentation (the
"Software") to deal in the Data Files or Software without restriction,
including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge,
publish, distribute, and/or sell copies of the Data Files or Software,
and to permit persons to whom the Data Files or Software are furnished
to do so, provided that (a) the above copyright notice(s) and this
permission notice appear in all copies of the Data Files or Software,
(b) both the above copyright notice(s) and this permission notice
appear in associated documentation, and (c) there is clear notice in
each modified Data File or in the Software as well as in the
documentation associated with the Data File(s) or Software that the
data or software has been modified.

THE DATA FILES AND SOFTWARE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF
ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
HOLDER OR HOLDERS INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, OR
ANY SPECIAL INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR ANY DAMAGES
WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT
OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE DATA FILES OR
SOFTWARE.

Except as contained in this notice, the name of a copyright holder
shall not be used in advertising or otherwise to promote the sale, use
or other dealings in these Data Files or Software without prior
written authorization of the copyright holder.