The CDDL was formulated by Sun Microsystems for development and distribution of some of its software. The license is considered to be one of the most popular licenses. Some of the softwares released under CDDL include, OpenSolaris, NetBeans IDE and RCP, GlassFish, JWSDP and so on.

Rights

Any person receiving a software under CDDL gets a world wide, non-exclusive and royalty-free license over the software. The license grants the following rights over the software:

Copyrights

The copyrights granted by the license include,

Right to use;

Right to reproduce;

Right to modify;

Right to display;

Right to perform;

Right to sublicense and

Right to distribute.

Patent Rights

The patent rights granted under the software include,

Right to make;

Right to have made;

Right to use;

Right to practice;

Right to sell; and

Right to offer for sale.

The aforementioned rights will be available from the date on which the original owner of the software makes the software available under the license. The license does not extend to

a. Code deleted from the software;

b. Infringement caused by modification of the software; and

c. Infringement caused by combination of the software with other software or hardware.

As per the license, any person, who makes modifications to the software shall grant the same aforementioned rights over the modifications.

Conditions for Distribution

Any software governed by the license has to be distributed in accordance with the following conditions:

a. The software has to be distributed along with the source code. (If the software is distributed in the form of executable, information should be made available about the place and manner of obtaining the source code.); and

b. The software should be distributed along with a copy of the license.

Any modification made to the software originally distributed under the license will be governed by the license. Any person, who makes modifications under the license, represents that the person has the right to make such modifications and that he/she does not violate any other person's rights. A modified version of the software has to be distributed in accordance with the following conditions:

a. The modified software has to be distributed along with the source code. (If   the software is distributed in the form of executable, information should be made available about the place and manner of obtaining the source code.);

b. The modified software should be distributed along with a copy of the license; and

c. The software should have a notice of a modification and the name of the person, who made such a modification. All other notices in the software have to be kept intact.

As per the license, the software may be distributed under a different license provided the terms of the license are in compliance with CDDL and it is specifically provided that different terms are provided by the person distributing the software.

Additional Terms

Any software governed by CDDL should not be distributed with terms that alter or restrict the applicability of the license. Any person distributing the software may offer and charge a fee for the following:

a. Warranty;

b. Support;

c. Indemnity; and/or

d. Liability.

If any such offer makes the original owner who made the software available under the license liable, the person making such an offer should indemnify the original owner.

Larger Works

The license allows for creation and distribution of a 'larger work' by combining a software covered by CDDL with another software not covered by the license. In such a case, the software covered by CDDL should comply with the terms of the license.

New Versions

Only Sun Microsystems has the right to modify the license. A software received under the license may be distributed under any new version of the license unless it is specifically provided that it has to be distributed under the same version.

Warranty and Liability

As per the license, the original owner of the software, who makes the software available under CDDL does not give any warranty and is not liable for any damages with regard to the software. The software under the license comes with no warranty and limited liability.

Termination

The license will terminate if any person receiving a software under the license does not comply with any of the terms of the license. The license shall also terminate if any person receiving the software under the license asserts patents against the original owner of the software or a person who makes modifications and distributes the software. In such a case, the person will be under sixty (60) days notice before termination during which period, the person may withdraw the patent suit or settle the dispute.