The OSKit is free software, also known as ``open source'' software. The majority of the OSKit is covered by the standard GNU Public License (GPL), found in the file ``COPYING,'' which basically allows free use, modification, and redistribution, as long as the source to the OSKit and any code linked against it is made freely available. If this appears too constraining, alternate licensing terms for much of the OSKit may be explored by contacting csl-dist@cs.utah.edu or calling +1-801-585-3271. Reproduction of the documentation is limited to non-commercial uses, including academic, research, evaluation, and personal use. For alternate terms, contacts are the same as above.
Because much of the code in the OSKit was ``donated'' by external projects there are a plethora of additional copyrights and licences, but their requirements are straightforward. Some parts of the OSKit are additionally covered by BSD/Mach/X11-style licenses which require acknowledgement and sometimes a notice in any advertising. Finally, the separate Wimpi code is covered by the Bellcore MGR license, which restricts commercial use.
The individual files describe the copyright and licensing restrictions. In all cases the BSD/Mach/X11-style restrictions are no more than inclusion of a name or notice in the accompanying documentation of the program that uses the code. For example, when linking in code from the FreeBSD project that is copyrighted by the Regents of the University of California, accompanying documentation must include the copyright and license notice, while advertising materials using the library must include the acknowledgement ``This product includes software developed by the University of California, Berkeley and its contributors.'' Other BSD-style license have similar requirements, but for a different copyright holder.
To help clarify matters, the Acknowledgements section, below, describes which parts of the OSKit are covered by which license(s).