[Catalog-sig] [PSF-Board] Troubled by changes to PyPI usage agreement

[P.J. Eby]

At 11:11 PM 1/22/2010 +0100, Martin v. Löwis wrote:
> > In order to make it clear that PyPI data may only be mirrored
> > for redistribution with PSF authorization, we need to add proper
> > notices to PyPI and also prevent such mirroring technically
> > (if possible).
>
>However, I don't think this is factually the case: *anybody*
>can indeed mirror the data in any way they like. This is how
>it is, and how it should be.

Indeed.  And if we are talking about mirroring the contents of the 
/simple index, there is no intellectual property there for PSF to 
claim copyright on.  (At least in the U.S., where it's well 
established that you can't copyright a list of names and phone 
numbers... and a list of links that isn't creatively arranged or 
generated by a human editor is very likely in the same category.)

That doesn't mean you can't use clickwrap agreements and such, but 
really, trademark dilution and tarnishment are the kinds of laws that 
are specifically designed to address the kinds of problems that 
"evil" mirrors would cause.  Adding an "Official PyPI Content" mark 
to the PSF's trademarks and establishing usage requirements around 
the mark is probably a more fruitful path than seeking technical 
solutions to an essentially social/legal problem.