[Numpy-discussion] Numpy code in GPL package

[Robert Kern]

On Wed, May 30, 2012 at 4:13 PM, Henry Gomersall <heng at cantab.net> wrote:
> I'd like to include the _cook_nd_args() function from fftpack in my GPL
> code. Is this possible?

Yes. The numpy license is compatible with the GPL license, so code
from numpy may be incorporated into GPL programs.

> How should I modify my license file to satisfy the Numpy license
> requirements, but so it's clear which function it applies to?

The clearest thing to do is to keep the _cook_nd_args() function
implemented in its own file which has the numpy license text placed in
a comment at the top. You should have a LICENSE.txt file that says
that your program is GPLed (and point to the COPYING file that
contains the GPL text) and also mentions that the _cook_nd_args file
(which you should mention by name) has the numpy license. Since the
numpy license is relatively small, you can just copy the full numpy
license into your LICENSE.txt file. Something like this:


    Copyright (C) 2012 Henry Gomersall

    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
    the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
    (at your option) any later version.

    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
    GNU General Public License for more details.

    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
    along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
    Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA


    3rd Party Addendum
    ==================

    The file cook_nd_args.c is derived from NumPy, and is available under the
    Modified BSD License:

    Copyright (c) 2005-2011, NumPy Developers.
    All rights reserved.

    Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
    modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
    met:

    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.

    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
       copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
       disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided
       with the distribution.

    * Neither the name of the NumPy Developers nor the names of any
       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
       from this software without specific prior written permission.

    THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
    "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
    LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
    A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
    OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
    SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
    LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
    DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
    THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
    (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
    OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

-- 
Robert Kern