近日,腾讯正式宣布加入由红帽公司发起的GPL合作承诺(GPLCooperation Commitment,承诺内容请见文末)。腾讯对该承诺的支持,体现了对开源文化与开源合规理念的认同,以及对知识产权的尊重,并认可开源合规在开源生态中,是极为重要的一个环节。
腾讯开源管理办公室负责人许勇表示:“腾讯作为国际领先的互联网公司,始终认同开源文化,并认为应该给予开源社区合适的空间来进行创新,只有通过充分的意见交流,才能激发开源社区最大的潜能。遵守开源许可证和推展相关开源合规工作是重要且必要的,而借由红帽公司发起的GPL合作承诺,创造了一种更为合理且可预测的方式,实现了在促进开源社区创新的同时,也提倡开源合规的重要性与对知识产权的保护。”
GPL合作承诺是由红帽公司率先发起,拒绝以严厉的方式来执行开源许可证,旨在提升执行GPLv2 、LGPLv2 及 LGPLv2.1 开源许可证时的合理性和可预测性。该承诺对于违反前述开源许可证的错误行为,给予合理的改正机会,从而维护开源社区协作、开放的氛围。
由红帽公司发起的GPL合作承诺,至今已有包括Google、Amazon、Microsoft、Facebook、Intel、IBM、SAP、SONY、NEC、Arm与Royal Philips等著名国际互联网与科技公司和组织公开表示支持。这些支持者广泛分布于世界各地,覆盖IT服务、软件开发工具和平台、社交网络、互联网金融、半导体、电子商务、多媒体软件等多个行业,他们也是开源社区的重要成员,对于开源文化均有显著贡献。
以下是腾讯的GPL合作承诺原文:
Our Commitment
Before filing or continuing to prosecute any legal proceeding or claim (other than a Defensive Action) arising from termination of a Covered License, Tencent commits to extend to the person or entity (“you”) accused of violating the Covered License the following provisions regarding cure and reinstatement, taken from GPL version 3. As used here, the term ‘this License’ refers to the specific Covered License being enforced.
However, if you cease all violation of this License, then your license from a particular copyright holder is reinstated (a) provisionally, unless and until the copyright holder explicitly and finally terminates your license, and (b) permanently, if the copyright holder fails to notify you of the violation by some reasonable means prior to 60 days after the cessation.
Moreover, your license from a particular copyright holder is reinstated permanently if the copyright holder notifies you of the violation by some reasonable means, this is the first time you have received notice of violation of this License (for any work) from that copyright holder, and you cure the violation prior to 30 days after your receipt of the notice.
Tencent intends this Commitment to be irrevocable, and binding and enforceable against Tencent and assignees of or successors to Tencent’s copyrights.
Tencent may modify this Commitment by publishing a new edition on this page or a successor location.
Definitions
‘Covered License’ means the GNU General Public License, version 2 (GPLv2), the GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1 (LGPLv2.1), or the GNU Library General Public License, version 2 (LGPLv2), all as published by the Free Software Foundation.
‘Defensive Action’ means a legal proceeding or claim that Tencent brings against you in response to a prior proceeding or claim initiated by you or your affiliate.
‘Tencent’ means THL A29 Limited and its subsidiaries.