jasmine_amir@0: CONTENTS
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0:   Public Domain Notice
jasmine_amir@0:   Exceptions (for bundled 3rd-party code)
jasmine_amir@0:   Copyright F.A.Q.
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: ==============================================================
jasmine_amir@0:                      PUBLIC DOMAIN NOTICE
jasmine_amir@0:          National Center for Biotechnology Information
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: With the exception of certain third-party files summarized below, this
jasmine_amir@0: software is a "United States Government Work" under the terms of the
jasmine_amir@0: United States Copyright Act.  It was written as part of the authors'
jasmine_amir@0: official duties as United States Government employees and thus cannot
jasmine_amir@0: be copyrighted.  This software is freely available to the public for
jasmine_amir@0: use. The National Library of Medicine and the U.S. Government have not
jasmine_amir@0: placed any restriction on its use or reproduction.
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: Although all reasonable efforts have been taken to ensure the accuracy
jasmine_amir@0: and reliability of the software and data, the NLM and the U.S.
jasmine_amir@0: Government do not and cannot warrant the performance or results that
jasmine_amir@0: may be obtained by using this software or data. The NLM and the U.S.
jasmine_amir@0: Government disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including
jasmine_amir@0: warranties of performance, merchantability or fitness for any
jasmine_amir@0: particular purpose.
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: Please cite the authors in any work or product based on this material.
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: ==============================================================
jasmine_amir@0: Copyright F.A.Q.
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: --------------------------------------------------------------
jasmine_amir@0: Q. Our product makes use of the NCBI source code, and we made changes
jasmine_amir@0:    and additions to that version of the NCBI code to better fit it to
jasmine_amir@0:    our needs. Can we copyright the code, and how?
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: A. You can copyright only the *changes* or the *additions* you made to the
jasmine_amir@0:    NCBI source code. You should identify unambiguously those sections of
jasmine_amir@0:    the code that were modified, e.g. by commenting any changes you made
jasmine_amir@0:    in the code you distribute. Therefore, your license has to make clear
jasmine_amir@0:    to users that your product is a combination of code that is public domain
jasmine_amir@0:    within the U.S. (but may be subject to copyright by the U.S. in foreign
jasmine_amir@0:    countries) and code that has been created or modified by you.
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: --------------------------------------------------------------
jasmine_amir@0: Q. Can we (re)license all or part of the NCBI source code?
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: A. No, you cannot license or relicense the source code written by NCBI
jasmine_amir@0:    since you cannot claim any copyright in the software that was developed
jasmine_amir@0:    at NCBI as a 'government work' and consequently is in the public domain
jasmine_amir@0:    within the U.S.
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: --------------------------------------------------------------
jasmine_amir@0: Q. What if these copyright guidelines are not clear enough or are not
jasmine_amir@0:    applicable to my particular case?
jasmine_amir@0: 
jasmine_amir@0: A. Contact us. Send your questions to 'sra-tools@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov'.