a.
General information
ETH Zurich encourages and fully supports the development of software by its students and employees.
If software packages (e.g. compiled applications and/or source code) are uploaded to public websites at ETH or other commercial or non-commercial distribution channels (e.g Apple's
AppStore, Sourceforge) it is necessary to follow these guidelines. The guidelines will help to avoid legal disputes and foster the usage of software as intended by its authors.
• Software packages must include or refer to a set of documentation. The documentation must contain the purpose of the software package and sufficient technical information for its target user group.
• These guidelines cover open source as well as closed source software.
More information on software licenses can be found at: http://www.transfer.ethz.ch/patente/compprog/index_EN and www.foss.ethz.ch
. For copyright issues or the choice of a license type please contact ETH transfer directly.
• All software packages, whether open or closed source, with or without a license fee, must be registered with ETH transfer.
Additionally all software licenses subject to a license fee will need the approval of the Vice President
Research and Corporate Relations. The approval can be obtained from ETH transfer.
(RSETHZ 440.4: Article 3.1 «Financial exploitation guidelines» / «Ziffer
3.1 Verwertungsrichtlinien vom 1. Februar 2005», www.rechtssammlung.ethz.ch
).
• No software package shall be published online without clear licensing. For software packages owned by ETH Zurich, it is compulsory to accept an open source license text (GPL, Mozilla Public License, Apache, BSD, iTunes license agreement for App Store applications, etc.), or a customized license text jointly formulated with ETH transfer before downloading the code or starting the application for the first time.
• It is not permitted to place the ETH logo on download portals even if the software entailed is owned by ETH (for use of ETH logo please refer to RSETHZ
202.4 «Weisungen über die Verwendung des Logos der ETH Zürich vom
Präsidenten der ETH Zürich am 16.12.2003», www.rechtssammlung.ethz.ch
).
Information for software developers, ETH transfer / IT Services Page 1/3

b.
Software package developed by ETH Zurich Bachelor and Master students
Bachelor or Master students are personally responsible for all software packages they develop within the scope of their studies. This software must therefore be placed under their own name ( as author and copyright owner without any reference to ETH
Zurich (name and address). Legal issues (copyright, intellectual property) are described in AVL ETHZ; SR 414.135.1, Article 19, Paragraph 1
( www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c414_135_1.html
; www.rechtssammlung.ethz.ch
)
Students, who publish software packages on commercial or non-commercial distribution channels (e.g. Sourceforge, Apple iPhone App Store etc.) must ensure that the software does not infringe on any third party rights. In case of uncertainties please contact ETH transfer. c.
Software developed by ETH Zurich employees
Software packages developed by PhD students, PostDocs, Professors or other employees of ETH Zurich, is owned by ETH Zurich and must be placed under the name of ETH Zurich (name and address of the institute or research group). The institute or research group is responsible for software placements and the quality thereof.
The source code plus banner page must include the following text :
© Copyright ETH Zurich; year and institute or research group. The name of the programmer is optional.
In case severe technical defects or user feedback affecting the reputation of ETH
Zurich, the institute or research group
• has to improve the software.
In case of uncertainty regarding software quality the group must remove the software from the download portal until the problem is fixed.
Information for software developers, ETH transfer / IT Services Page 2/3

Contact points for any questions:
• ETH transfer:
Matthias Hölling (copyright and licenses)
Rämistrasse 101
8092 Zurich
Telephone: +41 44 632 28 63
Fax: +41 44 632 11 84
E-Mail: matthias.hoelling@sl.ethz.ch
• IT Services:
Head of IT Services
8092 Zürich
Web: http://www.its.ethz.ch
Max Schlapfer (Apple and iPhone development)
Stampfenbachstrasse 69
8092 Zurich
Telephone: +41 44 632 36 25
E-Mail: schlapfer@id.ethz.ch
Benno Luthiger (open source)
Stampfenbachstrasse 67
8092 Zurich
Telephone: +41 44 632 57 65
E-Mail: benno.luthiger@id.ethz.ch
• ETH Zurich Corporate Communications:
Roland Baumann (Head Public Relations)
Rämistrasse 101
8092 Zurich
Telephone: +41 44 632 58 07
E-Mail: roland.baumann@hk.ethz.ch
ETH transfer www.vpf.ethz.ch/transfer/index_EN
ETH IT Services www.its.ethz.ch
1.6.2011
Information for software developers, ETH transfer / IT Services Page 3/3