Allow copyright variant to include "software use" about specberus

[tripu]

@darobin, I understand this means allowing "...W3C liability, trademark, document use and software licensing rules apply" as well as "...W3C liability, trademark and document use rules apply" Is that so?

I can't find where in the current rules that is permitted. Also, running the old checker against that spec that you mention returns an error precisely because of that...

[darobin]

There is ample precedent dating at least 15 years back, e.g. http://www.w3.org/TR/DOM-Level-2-Core/.

The idea is that it is okay to explicitly say that the software bits (e.g. code examples, IDL) are under the software license. I think that the existing pubrules never fixed that bug.

[tripu]

Then I guess we should first update pubrules to reflect that 15-year long practice of breaking that particular rule. And only then, reflect that change in Specberus. Am I right?

[ianbjacobs]

Hi all. This is a timely discussion. I believe pubrules today is "correct" and that DOM 2 was granted an exception. However, it is my understanding that the Patents and Standards IG will be discussing this very topic during TPAC. I assume we will have clarity either way after TPAC (either keep the policy as-is or expand it for code+IDL under the W3C Software License).

[tripu]

Thanks, @ianbjacobs. I've updated this issue, and we shall wait to do anything about it, then.

[deniak]

If this copyright is specific to one spec, it's better to handle it as an exception.