Python-2.0.1 and CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible

Max Mehl <[email protected]> Fri, 6 Mar 2026 13:47:47 +0000
Newsgroups gmane.comp.licenses.open-source.general
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Hi everyone,

As requested by Nick, I would like point to an ongoing discussion on Python=
 licenses, affecting both OSI's and SPDX=92s realms, and request OSI=92s ap=
proval of two licenses.

As you know, the licensing history of Python is quite complex, and the curr=
ent license consists of multiple other licenses representing the long histo=
ry and the different =93ownerships=94 of the project (CWI, CNRI, BeOpen, PS=
F). spdx/license-list-XML#2197<https://github.com/spdx/license-list-XML/iss=
ues/2197> and an email to spdx-legal@<https://lists.spdx.org/g/Spdx-legal/t=
opic/107252308> describe a bunch of intertwined problems around the identif=
iers of components of Python licenses. Recently, OSI fixed some of those al=
ready, thanks!

Now, I wonder about the status of the license SPDX describes as Python-2.0.=
1<https://spdx.org/licenses/Python-2.0.1.html>. IIRC, the main difference b=
etween Python-2.0<https://spdx.org/licenses/Python-2.0.html> and Python-2.0=
.1 is in the CNRI part, making it GPL compatible (the =93Virginia clause=94=
). SPDX lists this updated sub-part as CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible<https://s=
pdx.org/licenses/CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible.html>, a successor of CNRI-Pyth=
on<https://spdx.org/licenses/CNRI-Python.html>.

Since Python 1.6.1 and 2.0.1, Python releases have been licensed under Pyth=
on-2.0.1 (and recently additionally 0BSD for its documentation), while Pyth=
on-2.0 has only been used for Python 1.6 and 2.0. So modern CPython release=
s would probably be best described as being licensed under "Python-2.0.1 AN=
D 0BSD".

But OSI only approved Python-2.0 as an Open Source license, as well as the =
old CNRI-Python part. This is why I suggest OSI to approve Python-2.0.1 and=
 CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible as Open Source licenses, and mark Python-2.0 an=
d CNRI-Python as superseded. Is there any reason not to?

Best,
Max

--
Max Mehl
Open Source / Supply Chain
Enterprise-Team Chief Technology Office (CTO)
DB Systel GmbH / Deutsche Bahn

Schedule a meeting: cal.com/mxmehl<https://cal.com/mxmehl>


________________________________

Pflichtangaben anzeigen<https://www.deutschebahn.com/pflichtangaben/2026030=
5>

N=E4here Informationen zur Datenverarbeitung im DB-Konzern finden Sie hier:=
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<meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3DWindows-1=
252">
</head>
<body>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Hi everyone,</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
As requested by Nick, I would like point to an ongoing discussion on Python=
 licenses, affecting both OSI's and SPDX=92s realms, and request OSI=92s ap=
proval of two licenses.</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
As you know, the licensing history of Python is quite complex, and the curr=
ent license consists of multiple other licenses representing the long histo=
ry and the different =93ownerships=94 of the project (CWI, CNRI, BeOpen, PS=
F).
<a href=3D"https://github.com/spdx/license-list-XML/issues/2197" data-outlo=
ok-id=3D"c8d254e9-cda2-4b06-8db7-bce26d43e3bc">
spdx/license-list-XML#2197</a>&nbsp;and an <a href=3D"https://lists.spdx.or=
g/g/Spdx-legal/topic/107252308" data-outlook-id=3D"fe102278-b8de-497c-ada5-=
f66db752c1b7">
email to spdx-legal@</a>&nbsp;describe a bunch of intertwined problems arou=
nd the identifiers of components of Python licenses. Recently, OSI fixed so=
me of those already, thanks!</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Now, I wonder about the status of the license SPDX describes as <a href=3D"=
https://spdx.org/licenses/Python-2.0.1.html" data-outlook-id=3D"8715974d-cf=
48-4f8a-804a-70c055157f8c">
Python-2.0.1</a>. IIRC, the main difference between <a href=3D"https://spdx=
.org/licenses/Python-2.0.html" data-outlook-id=3D"91fa97a6-11f5-41c0-87e0-e=
557e08fc45c">
Python-2.0</a>&nbsp;and Python-2.0.1 is in the CNRI part, making it GPL com=
patible (the =93Virginia clause=94). SPDX lists this updated sub-part as
<a href=3D"https://spdx.org/licenses/CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible.html" data-=
outlook-id=3D"3567c9f9-2b49-47b0-81ea-244c5030e6b1">
CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible</a>, a successor of <a href=3D"https://spdx.org/=
licenses/CNRI-Python.html" data-outlook-id=3D"4e10b719-943a-4ba5-9168-f442c=
0eccf57">
CNRI-Python</a>.</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Since Python 1.6.1 and 2.0.1, Python releases have been licensed under Pyth=
on-2.0.1 (and recently additionally 0BSD for its documentation), while Pyth=
on-2.0 has only been used for Python 1.6 and 2.0. So modern CPython release=
s would probably be best described
 as being licensed under &quot;Python-2.0.1 AND 0BSD&quot;.&nbsp;</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
But OSI only approved Python-2.0 as an Open Source license, as well as the =
old CNRI-Python part. This is why I suggest OSI to approve
<b>Python-2.0.1</b>&nbsp;and <b>CNRI-Python-GPL-Compatible</b>&nbsp;as Open=
 Source licenses, and mark Python-2.0 and CNRI-Python as superseded. Is the=
re any reason not to?</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Best,</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Max&nbsp;</div>
<div style=3D"direction: ltr; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
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<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin: 0cm; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif=
; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style=3D"color: black;">--&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin: 0cm; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif=
; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style=3D"color: black;"><b>Max Mehl</b></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin: 0cm; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif=
; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style=3D"color: black;">Open Source / Supply Chain</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin: 0cm; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif=
; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style=3D"color: black;">Enterprise-Team Chief Technology Office (CTO)=
</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin: 0cm; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif=
; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style=3D"color: black;">DB Systel GmbH / Deutsche Bahn</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin: 0cm; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif=
; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style=3D"color: black;"><br>
</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin: 0cm; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif=
; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style=3D"color: black;">Schedule a meeting: <a href=3D"https://cal.co=
m/mxmehl" data-outlook-id=3D"4bf758be-12c8-40e6-b18a-99718d15ab49" style=3D=
"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
cal.com/mxmehl</a></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin: 0cm; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif=
; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style=3D"color: black;"><br>
</span></p>
</div>
<br>
<hr>
<br>
<a href=3D"https://www.deutschebahn.com/pflichtangaben/20260305">Pflichtang=
aben anzeigen</a><br>
<br>
N=E4here Informationen zur Datenverarbeitung im DB-Konzern finden Sie hier:=
 <a href=3D"https://www.deutschebahn.com/de/konzern/datenschutz">
https://www.deutschebahn.com/de/konzern/datenschutz</a>
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