On 13-02-18 4:33 PM, Hadley Wickham wrote:> Hi all,
>
> I would like to include a function that I have made by modifying an
> existing R function (bw.SJ and corresponding code in bandwidths.c).
> The header of bandwidths.c states:
>
> /*
> * R : A Computer Language for Statistical Data Analysis
> * bandwidth.c by W. N. Venables and B. D. Ripley Copyright (C)
1994-2001
> * Copyright (C) 2012 The R Core Team
> *
> * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
> * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
> * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
> * (at your option) any later version.
> ...
> */
>
> so it was originally written by Bill Venables and Brian Ripley, who in
> 2012 passed the copyrights to the R core team.
I would not assume that: I would assume that the R Core Team licensed
the source from Venables and Ripley (maybe under the GPL, but not
necessarily), and both them and R Core Team now hold copyright, and are
willing to license it to you under the GPL.
>
> What do I need to do to ensure meet my obligations under the GPL and
I won't give legal advice.
> to adequately acknowledge the work of the original authors.
> Currently:
>
> * my package has a compatible license (also GPL >= 2), and
>
> * I have acknowledged the authors in the documentation for my function
>
> * In the code, I have retained the copyrights of the original authors
>
> Do I also need to include Brian, Bill or the R core team in the
> authors at R field in my DESCRIPTION (as contributors)?
That seems reasonable.
Duncan Murdoch