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The NetHack General Public License1 is the software license that the NetHack computer game, a cult classic roguelike game, uses. The license is based on the Bison license. The NetHack license is certified as an open source license by the Open Source Initiative. Reason the license was written: This license was written by the Open Source Initiative. This is used for the Nethack, a single player dungeon exploration game. This license is based on the BISON GPL (1988) copyrighted to Richard Stallman. The goal for the Nethack GPL is to allow everyone to share Nethack and that all the users have the right to copy, modify, share and distribute the Nethack game when following the license guidelines. It does not make any restrictions on Nethack modification or use of Nethack code in other software. It provides no warranties and allows users to charge people for warranty protection and Nethack copy transfers amongst each other thereby maintaining its ‘free for all’ condition. Compatibility with the GPL: GPL compatibility implies that modules released under a given license and GPL can be combined to make a larger program. The license doesn’t explicitly mention compatibility with GPL but as mentioned above the license allows all modifications when the license terms are followed and this allows combination with GPL modules as well thereby making this license compatible with GPL. This license is based on the GPL so there shouldn’t be any issues with GPL compatibility. Derivative Works: Nethack GPL requires all derivative works to be distributed under the same license and no sublicensing is allowed. The derivative work needs to indicate the modifications made and the dates of changes. Covered Works: All covered works must either include the source code or directions to obtain the source code from an archive site. The second alternative is allowed for a noncommercial distribution only. Charging money for the programs under the license: The license is intended to make the program free for all to use and the only fee the distributing person can charge is for transferring the files or for offering warranty protection. All the source code must be provided free of cost and if it’s not possible to provide it the information to do so must be provided free of cost as well. Including a copy of the license: No changes are permitted to the text of the license and the covered works must include a verbatim copy of the license. No sublicenses are allowed. Nethack GPL wants to ensure all have free access of Nethack. Adding to the license: Nethack GPL is restrictive with respect to license modification. Any attempts to change the license result in termination of the license agreement. As mentioned above payments are only allowed for transferring files and extending warranty protection. Distribution under the license: This is not implicitly mentioned in the license but since the objective of the license is free share of Nethack (and any parts of Nethack used for other programs) for everyone so this is also implicitly assumed. The authors of Nethack and Nethack GPL want to keep it free for everyone to use. Later Versions: This is not covered under the current license. Other Relevant Aspects: The Nethack license is very minimalist license in that it doesn’t impose too many restrictions apart from free use for everyone. It mentions what is not acceptable and allows the reader/user to implicitly assume everything else. But in its restrictions it covers everything to keep Nethack as a free and freely available program to everyone including all the source code that went into producing Nethack or any of its derivatives. Reviewed By: Ankur Jindal, Carnegie Mellon University
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