# Python License

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Python_License.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_License
> Source revision: 1082931909
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Software license}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox software license
| name            = Python License
| image           = 
| caption         =
| author          = [Corporation for National Research Initiatives](/source/Corporation_for_National_Research_Initiatives)
| version         = 2.11 and newer
| copyright       = 
| date            = 
| OSI approved    = Yes
| Debian approved = 
| Free Software   = Yes<ref name=fsf>{{cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#Python1.6a2 |title=License of Python 1.6a2 and earlier versions |at=List of licenses |publisher=Free Software Foundation}}<br>{{cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#PythonOld |title=License of Python 1.6b1 through 2.0 and 2.1 |at=List of licenses |publisher=Free Software Foundation}}<br>{{cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#Python |title=License of Python 2.0.1, 2.1.1, and newer versions |at=List of licenses |publisher=Free Software Foundation}}</ref>
| GPL compatible  = Some versions<ref name=fsf/><ref>[https://docs.python.org/3/license.html History and License] Python</ref>
| copyleft        = No
| linking         = 
}}

The '''Python License''' is a deprecated [permissive](/source/permissive_license) computer [software license](/source/software_license) created by the [Corporation for National Research Initiatives](/source/Corporation_for_National_Research_Initiatives) (CNRI). It was used for versions 1.6 and 2.0 of the [Python programming language](/source/Python_(programming_language)), both released in the year 2000.

The Python License is similar to the [BSD License](/source/BSD_License) and, while it is a [free software license](/source/free_software_license), its wording in some versions meant that it was [incompatible](/source/License_compatibility) with the [GNU General Public License](/source/GNU_General_Public_License) (GPL) used by a great deal of free software including the [Linux kernel](/source/Linux_kernel). For this reason CNRI retired the license in 2001, and the license of current releases is the [Python Software Foundation License](/source/Python_Software_Foundation_License).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.python.org/download/releases/3.3.4/license|title=Python 3.3.4 license|access-date=15 Apr 2014}}</ref>

== Origin ==

Python was created by [Guido van Rossum](/source/Guido_van_Rossum) and the initial copyright was held by his employer, the [Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica](/source/Centrum_Wiskunde_%26_Informatica) (CWI). During this time Python was distributed under a GPL-compatible variant of the [Historical Permission Notice and Disclaimer](/source/Historical_Permission_Notice_and_Disclaimer) license.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=https://www.python.org/download/releases/2.5/license
 |title=Python 2.5 license (with historical notes)
 |publisher=Python.org
 |access-date=2008-03-31
}}</ref> CNRI obtained ownership of Python when Van Rossum became employed there, and after some years they drafted a new license for the language.

== Retirement ==

The Python License includes a clause stating that the license is governed by the State of [Virginia, United States](/source/Virginia%2C_United_States). The [Python Software Foundation License](/source/Python_Software_Foundation_License); Python 1.6.1 differs from Python 1.6 only in some minor bug fixes and new GPL-compatible licensing terms.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{FOSS}}

Category:Python (programming language)
Category:Free and open-source software licenses
Category:Permissive software licenses

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Python License](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_License) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_License?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.