PhET SOFTWARE AGREEMENT
University of Colorado
In this document:
I. Software License Options
A. Option A: Creative Commons - Attribution (executables only)
B. Option B: Creative Commons - GNU GPL (executables and source code).
C. Attribution
D. Donations
E. Third Party Software Credits
F. Alternative Licensing Options
II. Privacy Policy
A. Commitment to Individual Privacy
B. Information Collected
C. Information Security
D. Information Sharing
E. Colorado Open Records Act
F. Setting User Preferences
III. Disclaimer
IV. Contact Us
I. SOFTWARE LICENSE OPTIONS
The PhET Interactive Simulations Project at the University of Colorado (PhET) distributes these simulations under the Creative Commons-Attribution 3.0 license and the Creative Commons GNU General Public License. The user is responsible for choosing which of the following two licensing options will govern their use of these simulations.
Both license options require attributing the work to:
PhET Interactive Simulations
University of Colorado
http://phet.colorado.edu.
If your use includes redistribution of the simulations, please let us know! This type of information is very useful when writing proposals for future funding.
Please consider contributing a tax-deductible donation to PhET to help keep the project going.
Contact PhET at phethelp@colorado.edu.
A. OPTION A: CREATIVE COMMONS - ATTRIBUTION
PhET releases the executable versions of all simulations (the *.jar files, the *.jnlp files, the *.swf files) under the Creative Commons - Attribution (CC-BY) license with the exception of the following simulations which are only released under CC - GNU GPL:
Bound States Simulation
Quantum Tunneling Simulation
and any additional simulations listed at http://phet.colorado.edu/about/licensing.php.
PhET Interactive Simulations by PhET, University of Colorado is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
What does this mean?
The interactive simulations developed by PhET Interactive Simulations (with exceptions listed above) may be freely used and/or redistributed by third parties (e.g. students, educators, school districts, museums, publishers, vendors, etc.). Non-commercial or commercial use is allowed. All uses require attribution of the work as described in the ATTRIBUTION section.
Parties wishing to modify the source code must use Option B.
B. OPTION B: CREATIVE COMMONS - GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
PhET releases both the source code and executable versions of all simulations under the Creative Commons - GNU General Public License (CC-GNU GPL).
PhET Interactive Simulations by PhET, University of Colorado is licensed under a Creative Commons GNU General Public License.
What does this mean?
The interactive simulations developed by PhET Interactive Simulations may be freely used and/or redistributed by third parties (e.g. students, educators, school districts, museums, publishers, vendors, etc.). Non-commercial or commercial use is allowed. All uses require attribution of the work as described in the ATTRIBUTION section.
In addition, the source code for all PhET simulations is available for use and/or modification from Unfuddle (login with username: guest and password: guest). The latest version can always be found there. Anyone can have access to the source code and make changes in it. The source code for any changes someone makes to the software must, in turn, be made publicly available by the party that makes the changes.
C. ATTRIBUTION
Both license options require attributing the work to:
PhET Interactive Simulations
University of Colorado
http://phet.colorado.edu
D. DONATIONS
PhET needs ongoing donations and grant funding in order to support the project, continue the development of new simulations, and maintain existing simulations.
If you find these simulations useful, and especially if your use is commercial, please consider contributing a tax-deductible donation to PhET to help keep the project going. For more information, email phethelp@colorado.edu or visit http://phet.colorado.edu/contribute/index.php.
E. THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE CREDITS
PhET's simulations use third-party software. A complete list of third-party software used, the developers, and the associated licenses is available from within each simulation. In Java, from the Help -> About menu, choose the Credits button. In Flash, open the dialog using the About button, and then choose the credits button.
F. ALTERNATIVE LICENSING OPTIONS
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://phet.colorado.edu, or by contacting us at phethelp@colorado.edu.
II. PRIVACY POLICY
A. COMMITMENT TO INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY
The University of Colorado and the PhET Project are committed to the protection of individual privacy, and ensuring the confidentiality of information provided by its employees, students, visitors, and resource users.
B. INFORMATION COLLECTED
In order to document the amount of use of PhET simulations and to provide the best services to our users, PhET collects a minimal amount of non-personally identifying information upon each simulation start-up (e.g. sim version, operating system, java version, ...).
When the simulation is launched online from http://phet.colorado.edu, information is collected via standard website statistics services.
When the simulation is launched from another source (e.g. a downloaded simulation file), a small message is sent to PhET as the simulation starts up. You can disable sending this information (see USER PREFERENCES below).
A complete list of the information sent to PhET is available in the simulations. For Java simulations, go to Files->Preferences, select the Privacy tab, and click on the "information" link. For Flash simulations, go to the Preferences button and click on the "information" link in the Privacy section.
C. INFORMATION SECURITY
The PhET Project has in place appropriate security measures to protect against the unauthorized use or access of its data. Such measures include internal review of data collection, storage, and processing practices and security measures, as well as physical security measures to guard against unauthorized access to systems where data is stored.
D. INFORMATION SHARING
Access to information collected through the use of PhET simulations is limited to those employees, contractors, and agents who need to know that information in order to operate, develop, or improve our services. The PhET Project may report a summary of this information (in aggregate) to other organizations and individuals for grant reporting purposes, or in published articles to document PhET's wide-spread use. No personally-identifying information is collected nor distributed. The PhET Project requires third parties to whom it discloses information to protect the information in accordance with this policy and applicable law. In addition, the PhET Project may disclose information to third parties when such disclosure is required or permitted by law.
E. COLORADO OPEN RECORDS ACT
The University of Colorado and the PhET project are subject to the Colorado Open Records Act, C.R.S § 24-72-101 et seq. The Colorado Open Records Act requires that all records maintained by the University and the PhET Project be available for public inspection except as otherwise provided by law. Non-personal identifying information collected by the PhET Project may be subject to public inspection and copying unless protected by state or federal law.
F. SETTING USER PREFERENCES
For simulations launched online from http://phet.colorado.edu, no preferences options are available because the simulation sends no start-up message to PhET.
When launching PhET simulations from any other location (e.g. a downloaded offline version), users may choose to disable the feature which sends the information message to the PhET Project.
Instructions for Java simulations: From the File->Preferences menu, choose the Privacy tab and uncheck the box in front of "Allow sending of information to PhET." Users will still be able to receive notices of updates, but in this case, no information is sent to the PhET Project. To disallow updates, uncheck 'Automatically check for updates' in the Updates tab.
Instructions for Flash simulations: Open the dialog using the Preferences button. Uncheck the box in front of "Allow sending of information to PhET" in the Privacy section. Users will still be able to receive notices of updates, but in this case, no information is sent to the PhET Project. To disallow updates, uncheck 'Automatically check for updates' in the Updates section.
III. DISCLAIMER
This software and the information contained therein is provided as a public service, with the understanding that neither the University of Colorado nor the PhET project makes any warranties, either express or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of this software and information.
By using this software, you assume all risks associated with such use, including but not limited to the risk of any damage to your computer, software, or data. In no event shall the University or the PhET project be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental, or consequential damages (including, without limitation, lost revenues or profits or lost or damaged data) arising from your use of this software.
IV. CONTACT US
Please send comments, questions, or concerns regarding this software agreement to phethelp@colorado.edu. Please do not send attachments with the message.