<nettime> NPB License

["nettime's_quasilegal" <nettime@bbs.thing.net>]

     [via <tbyfield@panix.com>]

<http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/5947/bugroff.html>

                       The "No problem Bugroff" license.

   Richard Stallman of the Free Software Foundation[1] devised, in addition
   to some marvelous software, the GNU General Public License (GPL for
   short). Or the CopyLeft it is sometimes called.

          [1] http://www.gnu.org/

   It is quite a revolutionary document, using the "copyright" tool to to
   protect your right to use free software.

   Unfortunately using copyright to protect free software is a lot like
   using a Jackal to guard the hens.

   In fact, various inconveniences relating to this have resulted in
   modifications such as the LGPL (Library General Public License) and
   more recently the NPL (Netscape Public License)[2]

          [2] http://www.mozilla.org/

   I call these matters mere inconveniences, the real damage will occur
   when the Jackal's, (sorry, I mean lawyers), actually get to test the
   GPL in court for the first time.

   Thus enter my version.

   Its very simple.

   Entirely consistent.

   Completely unrestrictive.

   Easy to apply.

   The "No problem Bugroff" license is as follows...

   The answer to any and every question relating to the copyright,
   patents, legal issues of Bugroff licensed software is....

   Sure, No problem. Don't worry, be happy. Now bugger off.

   All portions of this license are important..
     * "Sure, no problem." Gives you complete freedom. I mean it. Utterly
       complete. A bit of a joke really. You have complete freedom
       anyway.
     * "Don't worry, be happy." Apart from being good advice and a good
       song, it also says :- No matter what anyone else says or does, you
       still have complete freedom.
     * Now bugger off. The only way to get rid of pushy Jackals is to
       ignore them and not feed them. The GPL is just begging somebody to
       take it to court. Can't you just see it. Exactly the same thing
       that happened when some twit (not Linus) registered Linux as his
       own personal trademark. People got upset, started a fund, and
       hired, off all ruddy things, a Jackal to try and defend the
       chicken! Who really benefits from this trademark / patent /
       copyright thing anyway? The lawyers. Who made it up in the first
       place? The lawyers.

   OK so the last part of the license sounds a bit harsh, but seriously
   folks, if you are a :-
     * Lawyer asking these legalese questions... You should go off and
       learn an honest trade that will actually contribute to life
       instead of draining it.
     * Programmer asking these legalese questions... You have amazingly
       powerful tools in your hands and mind, use them to ask and answer
       the worthwhile questions of life, the universe and everything.
       Stop mucking about with such legal nonsense and get back to
       programming.
     * User/reader asking these question... Don't worry. Go off and be
       happy. Have fun. Enjoy what has been created for you.

   Comments, queries and conversation.[3]

          [3] mailto:cyent@mweb.co.za
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