Copyrights and the Grid: A case study

Rick St. Denis

Glasgow University

Outline

• The computing Problem

• The current implementation

• The SBIRII/SQL Builder project

• The issues and DOE feedback

• Broader Implications for OSG, SAMGrid, PPDG

Dimensions to SQL• Users select data in sam with a metadata language:

sam translate constraints –dim=“runnumber>10 and runNumber<100 and dataquality good”

• A list of files is returned• Users kept away from SQL

(complex&Dangerous)

User enterscommand SAM

DBServer

Corba

List of filesUser gets files

Current Implementation

• The Current DBServer dimension code, written by Matt Vranicar and residing in the SAM DBServer:– Receives the user string via CORBA

– Parses the string to RPN

– Turns the RPN into SQL

– Sends the SQL to the Oracle Server

– Receives the result

– Passes the result back to the user through CORBA

SBIRII and SQLBuilder Projects• Fix deficiencies in the dimension language: Randy

Herber’s Lex/Yacc based parser: Used by both SBIRII and SQLBuilder, written as part of SBIRII 1 FTE commitment.

• Obtain the result with either– Piocon software plus Enth software. (takes advantage

of distrubuted Grid database) [Piocon Copyright]– Enhancing the RPN to SQL portion of the current

dimension code, but only use the Oracle Server. [FNAL copyright] (Written by Randy and Morag Burgon-Lyon [GridPP funded at Glasgow Univerisity])

Issues: What is the copyright for Randy’s work?What is the copyright implication of Morag’s Involvment?

Old DBServerParser

Lex/Yacc (Lex/Yacc)-2

Dim=“….”

RPN-0 RPN-2RPN-1

Old DBServerSQLBuilder

New SQLBuilder

Piocon

SQL

FNALSBIRII

Disputed

Corba Python,etc

DataCode

SQL’

Enth

Oracle Server List of Files

Other

Old DBServerParser

Lex/Yacc

Dim=“….”

RPN-0

Old DBServerSQLBuilder

New SQLBuilder

Piocon

SQL

FNAL

Corba Python,etcData

Code

SQL’

Enth

Oracle Server List of Files

SBIRII

Disputed/Glasgow

Disputed

Other

SBIR II Licensing Issues: The problem

• A portion of the DLT (dimension language to SQL translator) written by Randy Herber is claimed by Matt Vranicar under the terms of the contribution of 1FTE from FNAL to SBIRII and therefore carries an SBIRII license. By virtue of the central role that this code plays, this effectively turns SAM into only being available under the terms of the SBIRII license.

How to recover SAM

• How does URA, FNAL or DOE reclaim or reconstruct code being claimed by Matt Vranicar and Enth?

• For reconstruction, a person who has seen the dimensionCompiler code can not do the reconstruction! This is a large number of people.

• Can we simply give another person to replace the time interpreted by Matt as reported by Randy to SBIRII?

• Is the fact that Randy was not aware of his time being interpreted as a contribution to SBIRII relevant?

Counter Claim?

• Since Matt Vranicar developed the “old” DLT under contract (non-SBIR) to URA/FNAL before any SBIR, he has seen and understands the DLT. Can he claim any license other than a Fermi license on the work he used in Enth? Has this contaminated all of Enth?

DOE Ruling

• If Randy was paid by Piocon, then SBIRII copyright applies: Not the case. Randy paid by FNAL, so FNAL License applies

• Lawyers talk? Matt does not wish this

• Matt willing to have FNAL copyright, but does that limit him?

Broader Issues

• We wish to promote the use of SAMGrid code in the Grid.

• For global use of SAM a license like GPL or BSD is necessary. Can FNAL use or both of these for SAM code? BSD is preferred. The code must be free and freely distributable without being public domain and with appropriate liability disclaimers

FNAL Copyright Copyright (c) 2003 Universities Research Association, Inc.

All Rights Reserved.

This material resulted from work developed under a GovernmentContract and is subject to the following license: The Governmentretains a paid-up, non exclusive, irrevocable worldwide license toreproduce, prepare derivative works, perform publicly and displaypublicly by or for the Government, including the right to distributeto other Government contractors. Neither the United States nor theUnited States Department of Energy, nor any of their employees, makesany warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability orresponsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of anyinformation, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or representsthat its use would not infringe privately owned rights.

Fermilab Computing Division/Distributed Computing Department

Piocon Copyright

Copyright (c) 2003-2004 PIOCON Technologies, Inc.

TheseSBIR data are furnished with SBIR rights under Grant NumberDE-FG02-02ER83434. They shall not be disclosed outside the Government(including disclosure for procurement purposes) during such period withoutpermission of the grantee, except that, subject to the foregoing use anddisclosure prohibitions, such data may be disclosed for use by supportcontractors. After the aforesaid 4-year period, the Government has aroyalty-free license to use, and to authorize others to use on its behalf,these data for Government purposes, but is relieved of all disclosureprohibitions and assumes no liability for unauthorized use of these data bythird parties. This Notice shall be affixed to any reproductions of thesedata in whole or in part.