[Fedora-legal-list] Trusting upstream website when code has no license

[Richard Fontana]

Disclaimer:  IAARHL, IANYL, TINLA

On 15 Aug 2008 18:22:46 -0500
Jason L Tibbitts III <tibbs at math.uh.edu> wrote:

> The problem is code which has no license information at all.
> Sometimes there are copyright notices, sometimes not, and no mention
> whatsoever of any type of license.  However, there's a mention of a
> license at the upstream web site.
> 
> Now, obviously upstream should be prodded to get with the program.
> But in the interim, is it sufficient to simply refer to the upstream
> web site?  Keep a copy of it in the package (in case they decide to
> change it for some reason)?  Or should this kind of software be
> avoided entirely until upstream decides to release a version with a
> properly included license?

I'd say the last option is the most appropriate one.  

- RF