W3C Intellectual Property FAQ

The aim of the intellectual property policies of the W3C is twofold:

To encourage the wide spread dissemination of W3C work.
To eliminate confusion about the source and status of W3C work and to preclude the innocent or criminal infringement of our own and others' interests.

This document answers several Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about W3C work. This document is not legally binding nor does it constitute legal advice.

Which statements apply to specifications, Web pages, and software?
Who holds the copyright on W3C documents?
What is the STATUS of a W3C document?
May I link to the W3C site?
W3C Documents
W3C Software

1. Which statements apply to specifications, Web pages, and software?

IPR Notice and Disclaimers: General web site copyright, trademark, and legal disclaimer statements.
Document Notice: Information on reproducing W3C work including notes, submissions, recommendations, proposed working recommendations, working drafts and documentation.
Software Notice: Information on using and modifying W3C software.

2. Who holds the copyright on W3C documents?

The original author of the document. Many documents are created by the W3C and we consequently hold the copyright. Owners who allow their works to be published on the W3C site retain the copyright, but agree to the W3C license for the redistribution of those materials from our site.

3. What is the STATUS of a W3C document?

The STATUS of a W3C document is very important. It details its purpose, how the document was created or received, whether we are allocating resources to an activity related to the document, whether we have editorial control over the document, and how it may be referenced by other activities or documents. We disapprove and will act upon the misrepresentation of our work with respect to authorship, endorsement, or status.

4. May I link to the W3C site?

Of course. Links are merely references to other sites. You don't have to ask permission to link to this site -- or any other website. See ("link myths" for more on this).

However, you should not make a link which misrepresents what is being linked to, or implies a relationship with the W3C that does not exist. For instance, you may not use W3C pages as part of a frame or in any other way which changes the URL, or represents them as being published by anyone other than W3C.

5. W3C Documents

As documented, W3C documents can be redistributed or republished on the condition that you provide information so that others can easily find the original document, that you provide notice of the W3C's copyright, and that if the document has a "STATUS" section, you reproduce it.

5.1 I am a teacher, can I print out specifications and other documents for my class to read?

Yes. Fortunately most programs include the source URL when printing a document. You should also inform the class of the document's copyright notice.

5.2 I have a Web site that mirrors useful Web documents, can I make copies of your documents and serve them from my site?

Yes, provided that you clearly represent the status of the document and that the canonical version of the document can only be found on the W3C site. You should feel free to reference this FAQ or our other legal notices to make this representation clear.

5.3 I am a writer and would like to make a "fair use" excerpt from a specification for my analysis, what do I have to do?

In the reference (footnote or bibliographic entry) to the document you should include a URL to the original document, and be very clear about the intellectual property rights and STATUS of the document.

5.4 I am a publisher and would like to publish a book that includes some of your specifications, what should I do?

You must include a link or URL to the original W3C document, its status and its copyright notice. Also, you should provide at least one instance of the full text of our document copyright notice.

5.5 I really like the HTML 3.2 specification, but would like to make some changes, may I modify the 3.2 specification in a few places and redistribute it? May I call it HTML 3.2.1?

No and no.

5.6 Can I translate one of your specifications into another language?

Yes, provided that you comply with the all of the following requirements:

Inform the W3C of your plan to translate our content and inform us of when you've completed and published the translation. Such notice should be sent to w3c-translators@w3.org and -- if possible -- the W3C staff contact for the document.
Prominently disclose in the target language the following 3 items:
1. the original URL, the status of the document, and its original copyright notice.
2. that the normative version of the specification is the English version found at the W3C site.
3. that the translated document may contain errors from the translation.
This disclosure should be made in a header and/or footer that wraps the translated W3C specification. No semantic changes should be made to any part of the W3C document including the STATUS, contributors, or appendices. If comments or annotations are absolutely necessary within the content of the specification, those annotations must be clearly represented as such. (example)
Agree:
1. to the redistribution terms of the W3C document copyright notice. Consequently, your translation may be republished by the W3C or other entities if it is done in compliance with the notice's terms.
2. that the W3C may rescind your right to publish or distribute the derivative work if the W3C finds that it leads to confusion regarding the original document's status or integrity.

5.7 Can we be the "official" translation?

No, the only official version of a W3C document is the english language version at the W3C site.

6. W3C Software

As documented, W3C software can be modified and redistributed provided that you provide a copy of the W3C license, other relvant terms and conditions, and that you respect the intellectual property and trademarks of its originator. In a few instances, software distributed by the W3C is provided by another entity under specific terms and conditions which must be followed. Please review any notices or disclosures that accompany the software itself.

6.1 I am a software publisher and would like to release W3C software on a CD-ROM I am creating, may I? May I charge for it?

Yes, and you can charge for it, given the above requirements are met.

6.2 I really like Amaya, but would like to modify it, can I make the changes and re-release it?

Yes, we want people to experiment with and improve our software. It can even be used in commercial software. If you make changes for the better, we encourage you to contact its authors. You may not make changes and continue to call it by a trademarked term or misrepresent the origin, capabilities, or liabilities associated with its use. You may make valid assertions, such that it is based on Amaya code, or that it is compliant with a Recommended Specification of the W3C.

6.3 What are the terms and conditions for libWWW, Amaya, Jigsaw, etc.?

libwww is covered by a specific notice (including CERN) and the full W3C license.
Amaya and Jigsaw are covered by the generic notice and the full W3C license.

6.4 Is code released under the W3C license compatible with the GNU General Public License (GPL)?

Software which is free from any claims beyond W3C terms and conditions are compatible with the GPL and may be redistributed under the GPL.

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Other questions about W3C policies should be directed to site-policy@w3.org .

webmaster
November 1997

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