Adding the curl license

Christoph Röth via License-discuss <[email protected]> Sat, 3 Jan 2026 12:38:54 +0100
Newsgroups gmane.comp.licenses.open-source.general
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Dear OSI License Discussion Forum,


I would like the curl license to be added.=C2=A0Th|e license has been arou=
nd=20
for quite some time, so it can be classified as a legacy license. The=20
license is available at SPDX. Please find the required information=20
attached.|


**=E2=80=A2 Submit a copy of the license as an attachment in simple text f=
ormat.**

COPYRIGHT AND PERMISSION NOTICE

Copyright (c) 1996 - 2015, Daniel Stenberg, <[email protected]>.
All rights reserved.

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any=20
purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above=20
copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS=20
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF=20
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT OF=
=20
THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS=20
BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN=20
ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN=20
CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

Except as contained in this notice, the name of a copyright holder shall=
=20
not be used in advertising or otherwise to promote the sale, use or=20
other dealings in this Software without prior written authorization of=20
the copyright holder.


**=E2=80=A2 Affirmatively *state that the license complies*with the Open S=
ource=20
Definition, including specifically affirming it meets OSD 3, 5, 6 and 9.**

I can confirm that the license complies with the Open Source Definition.

3. Derived Works: Yes

5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups: Yes

6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor: Yes

9. License Must Not Restrict Other Software: Yes


**=E2=80=A2 Identify what projects are *already using*the license.**

The curl project itself.


**=E2=80=A2 Provide the identity and contact details of the *license stewa=
rd*,=20
if known, and of the submitter. The OSI will try to get in touch with=20
the license steward if the license submitter is not the steward.**

Daniel Stenberg, <[email protected]>


**=E2=80=A2 Provide any additional information that the submitter believes=
 would=20
be helpful for license review. For example, approval of the license by=20
Debian, the FSF or the Fedora Project would be relevant to the review=20
process.**


The website contains this text with detailed information about the=20
license, https://curl.se/docs/faq.html#license


What license does curl use exactly?

curl is released under an MIT derivative license. It is similar but not=20
identical to the MIT license.

The difference is considered big enough to make SPDX list it under its=20
own identifier: curl.

The changes done to the license that make it uniquely curl were tiny and=
=20
well-intended, but the reasons for them have been forgotten and we=20
strongly discourage others from doing the same thing.


**=E2=80=A2 Provide a *unique name*for the license, preferably including t=
he=20
version number.**

Full name: |curl License ||(according to SPDX)|

Short identifier: |curl ||(according to SPDX)|


**=E2=80=A2 If any exist, provide the unique identifier by other projects,=
 like=20
SPDX or ScanCode.**

https://spdx.org/licenses/curl.html <https://spdx.org/licenses/curl.html>


Best regards

Christoph


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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>

    <meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3DUTF-=
8">
  </head>
  <body>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in">Dear OSI License
      Discussion Forum,</p>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
    </p>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in">I would like the
      curl license to be added.=C2=A0Th<code class=3D"western"><font
          face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
            style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">e license has
              been around for quite some time, so it can be classified
              as a legacy license. The license is available at SPDX.
              Please find the required information attached.</span></font>=
</font></code></p>
    <br>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in">**=
=E2=80=A2 <font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">Submit a copy of the license as an
          attachment in simple text format.**</font></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">COPYRIGHT AND PERMISSION NOTICE</font>=
</font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">Copyright (c) 1996 - 2015, Daniel
          Stenberg, <a class=3D"moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
            href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">&lt;[email protected]&gt;</a>. <br=
>
          All rights reserved. </font></font> </p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">Permission to use, copy, modify, and
          distribute this software for any purpose with or without fee
          is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice
          and this permission notice appear in all copies.</font></font></=
p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">THE SOFTWARE IS 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 AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE
          LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
          AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF
          OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER
          DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.</font></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">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 this Software without prior written authorization
          of the copyright holder.</font></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
    </p>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in">**=E2=80=A2 <font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">Affirmatively </s=
pan></font></font><strong><font
          face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
            style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">state that the
              license complies</span></font></font></strong><font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB"> with the Open
            Source Definition, including specifically affirming it meets
            OSD 3, 5, 6 and 9.</span></font></font>**</p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">I can confirm that the license
          complies with the Open Source Definition.</font></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">3. Derived Works: Yes</font></font></p=
>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">5. No Discrimination Against Persons
          or Groups: Yes</font></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">6. No Discrimination Against Fields of
          Endeavor: Yes</font></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">9. License Must Not Restrict Other
          Software: Yes</font></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
    </p>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in">**=E2=80=A2 <font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">Identify what
            projects are </span></font></font><strong><font
          face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
            style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">already using</=
span></font></font></strong><font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB"> the license.</sp=
an></font></font>**</p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">The curl project itself.</font></font>=
</p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
    </p>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in">**=E2=80=A2 <font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">Provide the
            identity and contact details of the </span></font></font><stro=
ng><font
          face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
            style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">license steward=
</span></font></font></strong><font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">, if known, and o=
f
            the submitter. The OSI will try to get in touch with the
            license steward if the license submitter is not the steward.</=
span></font></font>**</p>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">Daniel Stenberg,
            &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]"
              class=3D"moz-txt-link-freetext">[email protected]</a>&gt;</span=
></font></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
    </p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in">**=
=E2=80=A2 <font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">Provide any additional information
          that the submitter believes would be helpful for license
          review. For example, approval of the license by Debian, the
          FSF or the Fedora Project would be relevant to the review
          process.</font></font>**</p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><br>
    </p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">The website contains this text with
          detailed information about the license, <a
            href=3D"https://curl.se/docs/faq.html#license"
            class=3D"moz-txt-link-freetext">https://curl.se/docs/faq.html#=
license</a></font></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><br>
    </p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">What license does curl use exactly?</f=
ont></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">curl is released under an MIT
          derivative license. It is similar but not identical to the MIT
          license.</font></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">The difference is considered big
          enough to make SPDX list it under its own identifier: curl.</fon=
t></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><fon=
t
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">The changes done to the license that
          make it uniquely curl were tiny and well-intended, but the
          reasons for them have been forgotten and we strongly
          discourage others from doing the same thing.</font></font></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
    </p>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in">**=E2=80=A2 <font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">Provide a </span>=
</font></font><strong><font
          face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
            style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">unique name</sp=
an></font></font></strong><font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB"> for the license,
            preferably including the version number.</span></font></font>*=
*</p>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">Full name: </span=
></font></font><code
        class=3D"western"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D=
"3"
            style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">curl License </=
span></font></font></code><code
        class=3D"western"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D=
"3"
            style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">(according to
              SPDX)</span></font></font></code></p>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">Short identifier:=
 </span></font></font><code
        class=3D"western"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D=
"3"
            style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">curl </span></f=
ont></font></code><code
        class=3D"western"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D=
"3"
            style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">(according to
              SPDX)</span></font></font></code></p>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
    </p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in">**=
=E2=80=A2 <font
        face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
          style=3D"font-size: 12pt">If any exist, provide the unique
          identifier by other projects, like SPDX or ScanCode.</font></fon=
t>**</p>
    <p style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><a
        href=3D"https://spdx.org/licenses/curl.html"><font
          face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif"><font size=3D"3"
            style=3D"font-size: 12pt"><span lang=3D"en-GB">https://spdx.or=
g/licenses/curl.html</span></font></font></a></p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
    </p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in">Best
      regards</p>
    <p lang=3D"en-GB" style=3D"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in">Chri=
stoph</p>
    <br>
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