Python Software Foundation License

{{Short description|Permissive free software license which is compatible with the GNU General Public License}}

{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}

{{Infobox software license

| name = Python Software Foundation License

| image =

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| author =

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| OSI approved = Yes{{cite web |url=https://opensource.org/license/python-2-0 |title=License Search |at=OSI Approved Licenses |publisher=Open Source Initiative}}

| Debian approved = Yes

| Free Software = Yes

| GPL compatible = Yes

| copyleft = No

| linking =

}}

File:Guido van Rossum.jpg]]

The Python Software Foundation License (PSFL) is a BSD-style, permissive software license which is compatible with the GNU General Public License (GPL).{{cite web|url=https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#Python |title=Various Licenses and Comments about Them, new Python license |access-date=2007-07-07 |last=Stallman |first=Richard |publisher=Free Software Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227002639/https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#Python| archive-date=2021-12-27}} Its primary use is for distribution of the Python project software and its documentation.{{cite web |url=https://docs.python.org/3/license.html#terms-and-conditions-for-accessing-or-otherwise-using-python | title=Terms and conditions for accessing or otherwise using Python | access-date=2021-12-29 |publisher=Python Software Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225221920/https://docs.python.org/3/license.html#terms-and-conditions-for-accessing-or-otherwise-using-python |archive-date=2021-12-25}} Since the license is permissive, it allows proprietization of the derivations. The PSFL is listed as approved on both FSF's approved licenses list, and OSI's approved licenses list.

This license is also known as "Python License 2.0.1".{{cite web|url=https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#Python |title=Various Licenses and Comments about Them |access-date=2023-04-13 |publisher=Free Software Foundation}}
{{cite web |url=https://spdx.org/licenses/ |title=Python License 2.0.1 |at=SPDX License List |publisher=Software Package Data Exchange}}

In 2000, Python (specifically version 2.1) was briefly available under the Python License, which is incompatible with the GPL. The reason given for this incompatibility by Free Software Foundation was that "this Python license is governed by the laws of the 'State of Virginia', in the USA", which the GPL does not permit.{{cite web|url=https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#PythonOld |title=Various Licenses and Comments about Them, old Python license |access-date=2007-07-07 |last=Stallman |first=Richard |publisher=Free Software Foundation }}

Guido van Rossum, Python's creator, was awarded the 2001 Free Software Foundation Award for the Advancement of Free Software{{cite web|url=https://www.gnu.org/award/2001/2001.html |title=2001 Free Software Awards |access-date=2007-07-07 |publisher=GNU Project - Free Software Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814060943/http://www.gnu.org/award/2001/2001.html | archive-date=2021-08-14}} for changing the license to fix this incompatibility.