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 phpBB Licensing & Copyright 
Description: A detailed article explaining how phpBB has been licenced and what you can and can't do with it.
Author: Callisto
Date: Sun Dec 07, 2003 4:23 pm
Type: Info
Keywords: license, copyright, gpl, gnu, legal
Category: Information and notices
phpBB is released under the well known GNU General Public License or GPL for short. In this article, I will attempt to decipher the GPL to allow you to understand exactly what it is saying. The full license can be found on the phpBB website here and the official website here. I have taken some text from the official GPL FAQ which is available in full here.

The aim of the GPL is to provide free (as in freedom) software to the "open source community". People can see the internal workings of an application and modify it for their own needs. This means that there is nothing hidden from the user and allows quick detection of bugs, among other things. A crucial aspect of "opensource software" is that users are free to share their bug fixes and improvements with each other.

Basic Terms/Restrictions

Because phpBB is released under the GPL, you are free to use the software in any way you desire. However there are certain conditions which apply when distributing unmodified or modified versions of the application (or archive):


  • When distributing copies of phpBB, whether for nothing or for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that you have under the GPL. You must make sure that they too receive or can get the source code.
  • You may copy and distribute word for word, line for line copies of phpBB's source code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you conspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the notices that refer to the GPL and to the absence of any warranty; and give any other recipients of phpBB a copy of the GPL along with phpBB.
  • If you modify sections of phpBB and then decide to distribute it (which is not compulsory), you must ensure the modified files carry prominent notices stating that you changed the files and the date of any change. If you do distribute modifications, they must be released under the GPL.
  • You must retain any copyright notices in the code.
  • If you release any modifications, you must also release, or offer to release the full source code. You cannot hide the code away and not let anyone access it.
Usage

Due to the nature of these few, resonable, restrictions, you are free to use phpBB on any site, be it public, private, personal or commercial. You are not restricted as how you can use phpBB.

Modifications

You are free to modify phpBB however you wish. If you wish to distribute any modification, then you must abide by the terms outlined above - note when you modified the files, retain all original copyright notices and release it on the GPL. However, if you do not wish to distribute modifications, you are not required to do so. No one can force you to release the source.

If you create a program not derived from phpBB, and it can be reasonably considered independent and separate, the GPL and its terms, do not apply when you distribute them as separate works. But if you distribute as part of phpBB, the distribution must be done so subject to the GPL.

You can charge any fee you wish for distributing a copy of phpBB or modifications released. Remember that you cannot restrict the rights of anyone paying for phpBB or modifications. Thus they can distribute the source for free, you cannot prevent them doing this.

You cannot incorporate phpBB in a proprietary ("closed source") system. The goal of the GPL is to grant everyone the freedom to copy, redistribute, understand, and modify a program. If you could incorporate GPL-covered software into a non-free system, it would have the effect of "closing" the GPL'd source too.

A system incorporating phpBB is an extended version of that program. The GPL says that any extended version of the program must be released under the GPL if it is released at all. This is for two reasons: to make sure that users who get the software get the freedom they should have, and to encourage people to give back improvements that they make.

If the two programs remain well separated, like the compiler and the kernel, or like an editor and a shell, then you can treat them as two separate programs - but you have to do it properly. The issue is simply one of form: how you describe what you are doing.

Copyright

phpBB includes copyright in the actual PHP code of the program. This protects the rights of phpBB Group, original authors of the software. Under the GPL, you must not remove this under any circumstances. Equally you cannot add to this copyright in a way which suggests you co-authored phpBB. If you add to or modify the source you may add an additional, seperate copyright notice noting to what it applies, e.g.
Quote:

phpBB © phpBB Group 2001,2004
MyMod © Me! 2004


Under the Berne Convention, everything written is automatically copyrighted from whenever it is put in fixed form. So you don't have to do anything to "get" the copyright on what you write - as long as nobody else can claim to own your work. However, registering the copyright in the US is a very good idea. It is the only way you can claim compensation in the courts (should that ever become necessary).

The default version of phpBB made available by phpBB Group includes copyright notice in the footer of the default subSilver styles. This includes the version number and a link back to phpBB.com. There is some question over whether this notice can be required to be retained or duplicated in other styles. Therefore phpBB Group allow its alteration or removal. However be aware that removing the notice will result in the loss of support at www.phpbb.com and most if not all other phpBB support sites. This is explained in the Rules & Regulations:

The Rules & Regulation wrote:
4. Support of phpBB2 product

k. Members who remove (or fail to display on their own template) this message will receive no support here. Users found adding copyrights back for a short period and then removing them after obtaining support will find that future aid will not be given.

You may alter the copyright provided that you do not merge your message with the official one in anyway. For example, "© Copyright 2002 The phpBB Group, myself" is not allowed.


psoTFX, the Development Team Leader stated:

psoTFX wrote:
We'd prefer you to retain the full copyright message as displayed by the default board configuration. If you cannot do this (for good reason) we will be happy with just the "Powered by phpBB" notice (phpBB being linked to www.phpbb.com ). If you do not display even this (which includes moving the notice to a separate credits page) we will not be able to offer support (the same stance has been taken by most if not all other phpBB related sites).


Remember you may not alter any copyright notice so as to suggest you authored the software.

If you have any further questions about the licence under which phpBB is released, please post to the phpBB.com forums. If you have any questions about the GPL specifically, please refer to this page. This document should not be considered as legal advice - it is written to help you understand the GPL. You are advised to read the entire license before using phpBB.

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