Licensing

WBI is a powerful architecture for building web applications, with a broad range of application areas. IBM is developing a number of products and solutions using WBI, but we realize that we cannot do everything by ourselves. We know that the developer community has all sorts of great ideas for new and innovative ways to use the web. We want to do everything we can to support the development of web applications using WBI.

All software has some sort of licensing, whether stated or implicit and WBI is no different. We can accommodate almost any licensing need, whether you are a university researcher, a hobbyist, a start-up company, or an IT department.

This page describes our current approach to licensing WBI. Please read it over and then contact us at wbi-license@almaden.ibm.com about your specific requirements. We will be happy to discuss your needs.

In plain English...

WBI is being made available on alphaWorks so that people can download it, use it for personal use, and develop their own WBI plugins. Use the WBI software at your own risk. It can be used to develop your own WBI plugins, which can be distributed under whatever terms you specify. However, the license does not allow you to distribute WBI with your plugin. You can do one of two things:

(1) ask users to get their own copy of WBI from alphaWorks, or
(2) send email to wbi-license@almaden.ibm.com to find out about licensing an IBM product that is based on WBI and is plugin compatible.

Note that WBI is not a supported product. Thus, we cannot guarantee bug fixes or enhancements at this time. We intend to continue improving and enhancing WBI, so we are very interested in your feedback. If your WBI application requires support, please send email to wbi-license@almaden.ibm.com to inquire about productized versions of the WBI Development Kit and WBI server.

Note also that WBI's source code is not being made available at this time. WBI is being distributed only in binary (class) form. We are considering an open-source distribution of WBI. If you think this is a good idea and would like us to do so, please send email to wbi-license@almaden.ibm.com.

Basically, you may use WBI for research, for building innovative plugins that demonstrate your ideas. You may setup a WBI server that others can access to use your plugin. But you may do this for research and non-commercial purposes only. If you wish to use WBI commercially, please send email to wbi-license@almaden.ibm.com.

Official alphaWorks License Agreement

When you download WBI from alphaWorks, you agree to the following:

IBM ALPHAWORKS LICENSE AGREEMENT

alphaWorks Non-terminating Trial License

Please read this IBM alphaWorks license agreement (called the "Agreement") carefully. Your use of the software or any related documentation (called the "Software") indicates your acceptance of the following terms and conditions. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, you may not install or use the Software.

Notice: The Software that is made available through the alphaWorks project is not generally available software. It has not undergone complete testing and may contain errors. It may not function properly and is subject to change or withdrawal at any time. No support or maintenance is provided with the Software. Do not install this software if you are not accustomed to using experimental software.

The alphaWorks Software is made available without charge in the experimental stage in order to allow you to evaluate the Software in its developmental stage. We encourage your feedback and suggestions.

1. Ownership and License.

The Software is owned by International Business Machines Corporation or one of its subsidiaries ("IBM") and is copyrighted and licensed, not sold.

IBM grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to download the Software and use it only for your personal, non-commercial and lawful end use. Implied licenses are negated.

You may copy the Software for backup only. You may not: 1) merge, distribute (for free or for sale) or sublicense the Software; 2) reverse assemble, reverse compile, or otherwise translate the Software.

2. Term and Termination

IBM retains the right to terminate this license at any time with or without any prior notification. Upon such termination you will delete or destroy all copies of the Software.

3. Warranty Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability

IBM licenses the Software to you on an "as is" basis, without warranty of any kind. IBM hereby expressly disclaims all warranties or conditions, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties or conditions of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. You are solely responsible for determining the appropriateness of using this Software and assume all risks associated with the use of this Software, including but not limited to the risks of program errors, damage to or loss of data, programs or equipment, and unavailability or interruption of operations. Some jurisdictions do not allow for the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.

IBM will not be liable for any direct damages or for any special, incidental, or indirect damages or for any economic consequential damages (including lost profits or savings), even if IBM has been advised of the possibility of such damages. IBM will not be liable for the loss of, or damage to, your records or data, or any damages claimed by you based on a third party claim. Some jurisdictions do not allow for the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.

4. License Rights

You hereby grant to IBM an irrevocable license under all intellectual property rights (including copyright) to use, copy, distribute, sublicense, display, perform and prepare derivative works based upon any feedback, including materials, fixes, error corrections, enhancements, suggestions and the like that you provide to IBM.

5. General

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of New York.

This Agreement is the only understanding and agreement we have regarding your use of the Software. It supersedes all other communications, understandings or agreements we may have had prior to this Agreement.