Development of Creative Commons licenses

["Viktor Varga" <viktor.varga AT gmail.com>]

> I've seen software that when executed displays the GNU GPL, but when you
> ask the programmer for software refuses to provide it, stating that
> "reverse engineering" violates the license, and providing source code is
> an option that they did not select.
>
> I also have seen documents with "copyright 2006 name of company.  This
> document uses the CC-BY-SA 2.5 license"  with a big stamp "confidential:
> do not distribute" on it.
>
> Obviously, in both instances the person who slapped the license on the
> product didn't understand what they were doing.

Yes, there is a lot of false licence using in the world because most
of the programesr simpy copy it without reading. :)

The problem wha i am focusing, is the very long licence agrement at
the install of a software.

If you check at the following link, there is a lot of hard to
understand and long licence, which  should be - i think - described a
cool icons. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_software_licenses

For example here is the a FAR MAnager licence


The FAR File and Archive Manager
License for use and distribution

Additional license for ex-USSR countries citizens
and registered in ex-USSR countries organizations
is provided in License.xUSSR.txt

The FAR manager is distributed as try-before-you-buy. This means:

1. All copyrights to FAR are exclusively owned by the authors -
Eugene Roshal and Far Group.

= means in an icon a rounded C

2. Anyone may use this software during a test period of 40 days.
Following this test period of 40 days or less, if you wish to continue
to use FAR, you MUST register.

= free to use for 40 days (what kind of icon can describe this well?)

3. Once registered, the user is granted a non-exclusive license to
use FAR on one computer (i.e. a single CPU), for any legal purpose, at
a time. The registered FAR software may not be rented or leased, but
may be permanently transferred, if the person receiving it agrees to
terms of this license. If the software is an update, the transfer must
include the update and all previous versions.

= a CPU picture and a number with it?

4. The FAR unregistered trial version, may be freely distributed,
with exceptions noted below, provided the distribution package is not
modified. No person or company may charge a fee for the distribution
of FAR without written permission from the copyright holder. The FAR
unregistered trial version may not be bundled or distributed with any
other package without written permission of the copyright holder.

= this means no derivative work = or shoudl have no package?

5. To register you must complete the registration form and send it,
with registration fee, to one of the authorized registration sites,
see FAR_SITE.TXT

6. FAR MANAGER IS DISTRIBUTED "AS IS". NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND IS
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. YOU USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE AUTHOR WILL NOT BE
LIABLE FOR DATA LOSS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF PROFITS OR ANY OTHER KIND OF
LOSS WHILE USING OR MISUSING THIS SOFTWARE.

= as is = means no warranty

7. You may not use, copy, emulate, clone, rent, lease, sell, modify,
decompile, disassemble, otherwise  reverse engineer, or transfer the
licensed program, or any subset of the licensed  program, except as
provided for in this agreement. Any such unauthorized use shall result
in immediate and automatic termination of this license and may result
in criminal and/or civil prosecution.

= no source?

So the question who uses the software, and what can make with it?

Who can use:
1) natural person (NP)
2) schools (educational)
3) companies (co)
4) nonprofit organizations
5) other
6) combiantions (for example, 1-5 + the using place is in a low GDP country)

What can we do with a software?
1) include in a package
2) try
3) register
4) reversee engineering
5) delete
6) other

What other stetemenst are possible with a software?
1) no waranty
2 other

Some of them easy to convert into CC but some of them not.
include/ not include into a package -maybe a small package icon for it?
reverse engineering - no derivative work icon?
trying priod? - a clock and a number

For example in this licence can be:
for trial period:
clock sign followed with number 40 (trial period 40 days), equal sign
(no derivative work), package sign (include it in package)

Separator: a big arrow to the regitered period

for registered period:
cpu sign followed with number 1, copyright sign



I know these were well thinked, but i think, a good, short and
understandable software licence will be usefull.

b.r.
Viktor