CU-SeeMe
SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENTS
Background and Introduction
CU-SeeMe Background
The CU-SeeMe project at Cornell University focuses on developing low-cost
access to desktop video conferencing with an intent towards rapid diffusion
of an essential technology for greater collaboration on the Internet. The
overall effort in developing the CU-SeeMe technology consists of two major
software components, (1) the end-user application for the Macintosh and
Windows platforms and (2) the reflector program which serves to knit together
multi-party conferences. In May 1995, Cornell University selected White
Pine Software, Inc. as master licensee for the CU-SeeMe software. As such,
White Pine will market an enhanced executable version of the Cornell software
and will sublicense the university software as well as their enhanced software
as described below. For a diagramatic overview of the CU-SeeMe licensing
landscape click here.
Conditions for Use of CU-SeeMe Binary Executable Versions
Cornell grants permission to use and copy, for any purpose, and to redistribute
the binary executable versions of CU-SeeMe and the reflector program according
to conditions specified in the copyright notices included with the programs.
Source Code Access Agreement Options
Organizations that wish access to the source code or to redistribute
CU-SeeMe under conditions other than those specified in copyright statements
may do so under one of the agreements that are described below.
(a) Restricted Internal Use Only License
Agreement - This agreement, from Cornell University, authorizes
the use of the Cornell source code for experimentation and research. No
redistribution rights are provided. Please refer to the specific license
for a complete statement of rights and restrictions.
Examples of activities that are permitted under this license
are:
- A university graduate student doing a masters thesis on video conferencing,
- An R&D lab within a corporation deciding if CU-SeeMe can fit into
the technology strategy for the company,
- A product development group determining if it can or wants to develop
an enhancement that would eventually be commercialized,
Examples of activities that are not permitted under this license:
- Studying the algorithms for the intent of improving own locally-developed
competing end-user software,
- Making a modified version and using the modified version internally
for normal production or business purposes beyond research.
(b) Restricted Nominal Fee Redistribution CU-SeeMe
Software License Agreement - This agreement, from White Pine
Software, provides a license to obtain the Cornell source code for CU-SeeMe.
Redistribution rights under specific conditions are granted. The agreement
requires the signer to distribute the executables of the modified software
to the user community freely and to realize no profit or gain, either direct
or indirect, from the redistribution. The signer must also provide the source
code of the modifications to both White Pine Software, Inc. and Cornell
University with the understanding that it may be incorporated into future
versions of CU-SeeMe. Please refer to the license for a complete statement
of rights and restrictions.
Examples of activities that are permitted under this license
are:
- Integrating CU-SeeMe into a middle-school distance learning program,
- Developing additional video or audio codecs and making them available
via anonymous ftp,
- Securing a research grant or advancing one's career because of enhanced
reputation related to work on CU-SeeMe,
- Developing support for a particular device and returning the source
code to Cornell and White Pine for possible inclusion in the public distribution.
Examples of activities that are not permitted under this license:
- Selling a modified version of CU-SeeMe end-user or reflector software,
- Selling a locally-developed reflector that interoperates with CU-SeeMe
end-user software,
- Developing support for a specific vendor's product or products that
are not freely distributed,
- Modification of the logo or introductory screens to display or advertise
a product.
(c) Commercial CU-SeeMe Software License Agreement - This
agreement, from White Pine Software, will provide a license to obtain the
Cornell source code to CU-SeeMe for modification and redistribution for
commercial purposes. This license would be a logical next step after a product
development under a Restricted Internal Use Only License Agreement. Payment
of royalties and/or other fees shall be negotiated with White Pine. Please
contact White Pine for the details of the license: 603-886-9050, kevin@wpine.com
(d) Commercial Enhanced CU-SeeMe Software License Agreement
- Enhanced CU-SeeMe is the commercial product from White Pine Software.
This agreement, from White Pine Software, will provide a license to obtain
the source code to Enhanced CU-SeeMe for modification and redistribution
for commercial purposes. Payment of royalties and/or other fees shall be
negotiated with White Pine. Please contact White Pine for the details of
the license: 603-886-9050,
kevin@wpine.com
CU-SeeMe is a trademark of Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
Enhanced CU-SeeMe is a trademark of White Pine Software, Inc.
For more information, contact Martyne Hallgren, Executive Director CU-SeeMe
Consortium, martyne@cornell.edu
, 607-255-5421.
