Relicensing (bits of) CC: Tweaked

[SquidDev]

I've been wanting to do this for years, and seriously considering it for about 4 months now, so might as well get the ball rolling somehow!

The Problem

When ComputerCraft was originally open sourced, it was released under the CCPL (ComputerCraft Public License), a derivative of the MMPL (Minecraft Mod Public License). Unfortunately, both the MMPL and CCPL have a couple of issues, which range from irritating to gaping holes:

• It's not a standard OSI-approved license. While in some sense this is purely a cosmetic issue, it has stopped several people contributing, and also blocks us from participating in some initiatives such as Modtoberfest.

• Code licensed under the CCPL can only be used in other Minecraft mods, and that code must be licensed under the CCPL. This means that any usage of the code in a non-mod project (including emulators or CC programs) violates the license.

  This is an incredibly restrictive clause, to the point that it's counterproductive. I can think of half a dozen (well meaning and useful!) projects off the top of my head which violate this clause.

• All dependencies of ComputerCraft must be licensed under conditions comparable to the CCPL. We inherit this condition from the MMPL, and it's definitely a problematic one. While I do not believe it's the intention, the practical outcome is that all dependencies must be licensed under the CCPL. While there are exceptions for Minecraft and the mod loader (Forge/Fabric), there aren't any exceptions for other dependencies, such as the Java Standard Library or Netty.

  This suggests that even ComputerCraft itself violates its own license, a position which is clearly untenable!

The difficulty of relicensing

Given CC/CC:T's license is somewhere between awkward and untenable, I would like to relicense CC: Tweaked under something more standard and permissive.

Relicensing a project requires getting every single previous contributor to sign off on the new license. This is incredibly hard for a couple of reasons:

Firstly, CC: Tweaked has had 98 people contribute to it. While 20-30 of these people have only committed trivial changes, which don't require permission, this is still a lot of people and will be a slow process. I remember Forge's relicensing process took months, and I don't think BuildCraft ever managed to complete theirs!

Secondly, and perhaps more seriously, this list of people includes Dan. I have raised relicensing CC with Dan in the past, and while he's been receptive, as of writing nothing concrete has happened. I think we should assume that we will NOT be able to get Dan's permission to relicense his code.

Alternatives

While we cannot change the whole mod, I do think we should aim to relicense as much code as possible under something more permissive.

I'm proposing using the Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL 2.0) as the license of choice here. This is a weak copyleft license, which means that changes to the original code must be released (more or less forcing forks of the mod to remain open source) but unlike the GPL (or derivatives) is not viral, meaning it can be used in more permissively licenced projects.

In terms of actually handling the relicensing, I believe our best route here is to adapt the REUSE project's conventions: tracking copyright and licensing on a file-by-file basis, rather than a blanket license for the whole project.

I'm not entirely sure this is Correct(TM): if anyone in the UK knows a good source of legal advice for OS software licensing please do get in touch. However, I think it's a Best Effort given the current mess we're in.

In closing

I don't know if any of the above sounds remotely sensible. Would appreciate any and all feedback here!

I'm probably going to let this issue sit for a few weeks to gather some feedback, then will update this issue on whether I want to go ahead with this or not.

[fatboychummy]

I have committed a couple things here, though I don't know if what I committed was already under a new license. In case they weren't though,

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[SirEdvin]

I even doesn't knew, that I have commited something useful :)

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0. Additionally, I would like to assign copyright ownership of my past and any future contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to the CC: Tweaked project itself.

Thank you for your endless work!

[LelouBil]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[Bluenaxela]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

(I'd forgotten I did a minor little pull request once upon a time, haha. Seems like a sensible relicense in any case)

[Granddave]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

Good luck with the relicensing!

[signalhunter]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

:shipit:

[dmarcuse]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[Cruor]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[AxelFontarive]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

It's been some time since I last logged in with this account, thanks for making CC:T more open!

[BombBloke]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

Likewise for any other such changes SquidDev may wish to make in the future.

[chesiren]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[CrazedProgrammer]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[SquidDev]

Thank you for everyone who has agreed so far! We're over a third of the way there now!

---

If you're in the list of people below, would you be able to comment with the following message:

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

If you're not happy to relicense your contributions, please also let me know, so I know not to poke you further!

User	Permission granted
@exerro	:heavy_check_mark:
@Hasaabitt	:heavy_check_mark:
@hugeblank	:heavy_check_mark:
@Iunius118	:heavy_check_mark:
@IvoLeal72	:heavy_check_mark:
@jakedacatman
@jaredallard	:heavy_check_mark:
@JLLeitschuh	:heavy_check_mark:
@JohnnyIrvin
@josephcsible	:heavy_check_mark:
@Jummit	:heavy_check_mark:
@khankul	:heavy_check_mark:
@liquiad	:heavy_check_mark:
@Luca0208	:heavy_check_mark:
@magiczocker10	:heavy_check_mark:
@Marco4413	:heavy_check_mark:
@teteukt
@MineRobber9000	:heavy_check_mark:
@MORIMORI0317	:heavy_check_mark:
@neumond	:heavy_check_mark:
@nothjarnan	:heavy_check_mark:
@Ocawesome101	:heavy_check_mark:
@RuiNtD	:heavy_check_mark:
@Techman749	:heavy_check_mark:
@zyxkad	:heavy_check_mark:

[IvoLeal72]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[Luca0208]

You do know that you're subscribing everyone you mention to this issue, meaning they get an E-Mail for every reply? (On the same note: Hello to a lot of people) [Not that I'd know a better way to do this, just wanted to put out a quick word of warning that you're potentially spamming a lot of people]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[SquidDev]

You do know that you're subscribing everyone you mention to this issue, meaning they get an E-Mail for every reply?

I am aware it's a problem, but as you say I'm not really sure there's a better way. I would recommend people hit the unsubscribe button on this issue once responding, as that should shut up this issue again. :)

[liquiad]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[Hasaabitt]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[nothjarnan]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

---

From: Hasaabitt @.> Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2023 1:53:07 PM To: cc-tweaked/CC-Tweaked @.> Cc: Linus Ramneborg @.>; Mention @.> Subject: Re: [cc-tweaked/CC-Tweaked] Relicensing (bits of) CC: Tweaked (Issue #1339)

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHubhttps://github.com/cc-tweaked/CC-Tweaked/issues/1339#issuecomment-1560978194, or unsubscribehttps://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ADXYWEZAEOUOTDGTTK2ZKB3XHXZCHANCNFSM6AAAAAAU6SUUXI. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: @.***>

[zyxkad]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

:)

[Jummit]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

Let's got this done!

[josephcsible]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[magiczocker10]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[RuiNtD]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[Marco4413]

After getting 8+ emails about this, I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[Ocawesome101]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

Additionally, I assign copyright ownership of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project.

i had no idea i'd made contributions that would qualify for something like this. neat.

[JLLeitschuh]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[jaredallard]

I would like to softly note that I prefer GPL-3.0-or-later, but I am much more for uniformity. Also, my change was very very small (on another note, hi again @SquidDev! 👋)

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[SquidDev]

I would like to softly note that I prefer GPL-3.0-or-later!

Hello :wave:! Wow, it really has been an age. Hope you're doing well :).

I did consider GPL, however there are a couple of problems with it in the context of ComputerCraft:

• It's not clear whether Minecraft counts as a system library or not - after all, it's not part of the operating system or core Java VM. Given Minecraft is proprietary, I'm not confident you can have GPL licenced mods.

  The FSF does provide some advice and workarounds for this, so it's not insurmountable, but also defeats the point of using an entirely standard license.

• Licensing CC's Lua code under the GPL is a no-go, as then all programs for CC:T would have to be distributed under the GPL. There's a bit of me which would approve of that, but also it's a can of worms I'd rather avoid opening.

  We could probably use the LGPL here instead, but at that point I feel the MPL 2.0 does a better job of being a less-viral copyleft license.

---

According to my spreadsheet, we're half way there! Thank you everyone :heart: :sparkling_heart:

[hugeblank]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[Iunius118]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[SquidDev]

Thank you for everyone who has agreed so far! This should be everyone now![^1]

---

If you're in the list of people below, would you be able to comment with the following message:

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

If you're not happy to relicense your contributions, please also let me know, so I know not to poke you further!

Apologies for the inevitable email spam here - I'd recommend hitting unsubscribe on the issue afterwards!

User	Permission granted
@9551-Dev	:heavy_check_mark:
@dirthsj	:heavy_check_mark:
@Gibbo3771
@livegamer999
@Luca-Ilari	:heavy_check_mark:
@MrSvyatik
@ObloxCC
@osmarks	:heavy_check_mark:
@parly	:heavy_check_mark:
@Paspartout	:heavy_check_mark:
@Possseidon	:heavy_check_mark:
@Quezler	:heavy_check_mark:
@R93950X	:heavy_check_mark:
@ralphgod3	:heavy_check_mark:
@roland-a
@RomanPlayer22	:heavy_check_mark:
@SkyTheCodeMaster	:heavy_check_mark:
@theoriginalbit	:heavy_check_mark:
@TheWireLord	:heavy_check_mark:
@timia2109	:heavy_check_mark:
@Vexatos	:heavy_check_mark:
@wackbyte	:heavy_check_mark:
@Wendelstein7	:heavy_check_mark:
@XuyuEre
@xXTurnerLP	:heavy_check_mark:

[^1]: Well, there's a couple of people no longer on GitHub. I'm going to contact them directly.

[Vexatos]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

Good luck with the rest.

[Quezler]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[Possseidon]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[9551-Dev]

I permit the license of my (small) contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

Cheers

[xXTurnerLP]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

hopefully everyone agrees :)

[timia2109]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[MORIMORI0317]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[RomanPlayer22]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[SkyTheCodeMaster]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[Luca-Ilari]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[dirthsj]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

PS: I really like the dual Apache/MIT approach the Rust community uses. Not that it's worth anything this late in the process...

[ralphgod3]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[parly]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[theoriginalbit]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[exerro]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[xAnavrins]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[wackbyte]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.

[TheWireLord]

I permit the license of my contributions to the CC: Tweaked project to be changed to the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.