using BSD-licensed libraries on iPhone

Question

I would like to use the JSON-framework ObjC library, which is licensed under BSD license, in my iPhone application. The thing is, I'm not sure what does the BSD license require me to do. The text of the license states that:

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.

Does this mean I would have to paste the whole license text (~ 15 lines) into that small info file supplied for all App Store applications? Because if so, that would make it unreadable... Or is it enough to just write that "This application includes open source code written by XXX YYY"? Or can I put the text of the license somewhere else?

Answer 1

Did you read the bit that says "in the documentation and/or other materials"? You don't have to display anything when your app runs. The BSD license is widely used with sever software that has no GUI with which to display a message.

The BSD license is a "you can do what you want with the code" deal (unlike the GPL), with the exception of the copyright, which must be maintained in source and/or docs - but you do NOT need to display it.

Answer 2

My interpretation is that you don't have to include the full text in the documentation, and you don't have to include the full text in the other materials, but if you don't include it in one, then you must include it in the other — you must include it somewhere.

What I typically see is a copyright message in the program noting that some of the code belongs to the University of California Board of Regents, and then the full message is included with the included source code, or in the fine print at the start of the PDF manual.

If there is no documentation and the only "materials provided with the distribution" are the application itself, then it's pretty clear to me where you need to include the copyright notice, the list of conditions, and the disclaimer.

Does your app has a Web site of its own that you link to within the app, and not just the page in the App Store? You could try putting the license there.

Maybe it would suffice to simply include the license file as just another file in the app bundle. The requirements don't mention displaying the notice, after all, right? I would consider that to be underhanded, flouting the spirit of the license, if not the letter.

Answer 3

What follows is the answer provided to (essentially) the same question when I posed it to the author of json-framework at its Google Code page:

I think you are confused as to what is meant by 'redistribution in binary form'. As far as I'm concerned it only applies if you're providing the library in binary form for others to link with. (E.g. as a static or dynamic library). If you are distributing an application that happens to make use of this library for its own workings, that clause does not apply and your point number 4 [Ed: That is, the license would "Not reproduced at all"] applies.

If you decide to use the library and you do find it useful I'd be grateful if you mention that, somewhere, but it is entirely your choice.

I will not changing the text of the copyright notice. If you're not familiar with it already, search for 'new BSD license' and see how much of the software you already use this license. (Hint: It's used among others by Webkit, the browser engine at the core of Safari.)

So that pretty much answers that, certainly as it pertains to the expectations of the maintainer of the project in question, json-framework.

Edit: I am not making a statement that I agree or disagree with the author's opinion of the legal scope of the license.