MIT License clarification

[EmilStenstrom]

Hi html5ever developers!

I wanted to double-check if you think that my library is in violation of the html5ever MIT license. The background is this: https://friendlybit.com/python/writing-justhtml-with-coding-agents/

I asked the LLM to look at the html5ever code while working. I think the core structure of the code is similar. The actual code is obviously not, mine being pure python, and yours being macro-based Rust.

And for reference, this wasn't just me typing a prompt and being done with it. I'm at 1200+ commits so far :)

And for reference, I've added a link to this project in the Acknowledgement section in the README, if that matters. This is not giving acknowledgement where it's due.

So, question:

Do I need to include "Copyright (c) 2014 The html5ever Project Developers" in my MIT license file to be compliant with your MIT license?

[simonwuelker]

As someone who is very much not a lawyer, this is what the license says:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

Given that you're not redistributing any html5ever code you don't need to include html5ever authors in the copyright notice.

I don't speak for the servo project, but I believe it's highly unlikely that you're going to get in trouble. Your post was also shared in https://servo.zulipchat.com/ btw!