Permission to Use or Attribute Works 0

This page is for authors and journalists seeking permissions to use or attribute works by or to Doug Engelbart or his staff.

The Doug Engelbart Institute ("DEI") encourages and supports the widespread dissemination and implementation of Doug's work, subject to the following conditions and terms of use.

We will make every effort to accommodate your project, and meet your schedule, providing you take reasonable care and effort to research your facts and accurately reflect this important intellectual legacy (see also our Press Inquiries page, particularly the section on Setting the Record Straight).

Papers 1

To republish part or all of any of Doug's published paper(s), contact the publisher of each article for copyright permission. For publisher name and publication details, refer to Doug's Bibliography. To republish part or all of any of Doug's White Papers, or any of our website content, contact the DEI directly.

Photos 2

Most of the historic photos from the SRI days 1957-1978 are property of SRI International except where noted; accordingly, for copyright permissions and to receive a high-resolution version of the image please This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it directly, or inquire This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 650-859-3845. For photos before 1957 or after 1978, or for questions as to which is which, please contact the DEI directly.

Video 3

The video footage of Doug's 1968 Demo (aka the Mother of all Demos) and Doug's 1969 Demo is owned by SRI International; accordingly, for copyright permissions please submit your request to SRI Press Relations directly or inquire This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 650-859-3845. For all other videos please contact the DEI directly.

Software 4

The HyperScope software is open source and available under the GPL License. To better understand its intent, see About an Open Hyperdocument System and the hyperscope.org website. For questions regarding NLS or Augment, AugTerm or VisualAugTerm (VAT), please contact the DEI directly and/or the Software Preservation Group at the Computer History Museum.

Attributions 5

Published materials owned or managed by the DEI may be quoted without permission provided the quote is limited to no more than 250 words, accurately presented, and properly cited.

All other attributions of concepts, ideas, quotes, representations or authorship to Doug Engelbart, or to any employee or official of the Doug Engelbart Institute, requires prior written approval by the DEI. Please also see our specific terms below regarding Attributing Work, Ideas, and Quotes to Doug Engelbart.

Anyone is free to express their own understanding of Dr. Engelbart’s ideas and to comment on them. However, under no circumstances may they state explicitly or suggest implicitly that they are speaking on behalf of Dr. Engelbart or the Doug Engelbart Institute. We see a critical difference between a work in which someone interprets his ideas, and a work that purports to be statements from the original source.

That said, we especially appreciate authors who take care to accurately reflect the work with the same artistic integrity that Doug Engelbart himself applied throughout his career. See also our introductory comments at the top of this page, and please take a moment to read about our ongoing efforts in Setting the Record Straight.

Policy Changes 6

The Doug Engelbart Institute retains the right to change its policies at any time.

Attributing Work, Ideas, and Quotes to Doug Engelbart 7

The Doug Engelbart Institute was founded by Dr. Engelbart and Christina Engelbart to foster and safeguard his work, which includes a responsibility to make decisions concerning the use of his name and the dissemination of his ideas.

The DEI, in accordance with Dr. Engelbart’s wishes, is the exclusive entity vested with the authority to identify and authenticate Dr. Engelbart as an author.  Accordingly, no one is permitted to attribute concepts or ideas to Dr. Engelbart without the prior written of the Doug Engelbart Institute.

As the DEI has been chartered with the responsibility of preserving Dr. Englebart’s legacy and the integrity of his work, we accordingly ask that you contact the DEI if you believe there could be any confusion as to the attribution of any of Dr. Englebart’s work, statements or permissions. The DEI Board’s position is that anyone is free to express their own understanding of Dr. Engelbart’s ideas and to comment on them; however, under no circumstances may they state explicitly or suggest implicitly that they are speaking on behalf of Dr. Engelbart or the Doug Engelbart Institute.

When the DEI discovers a violation of its policies, including these terms of use and attribution, the DEI will request that the author take remedial actions, and seek a mutually beneficial outcome.

Understand that Dr. Engelbart’s name and ideas are legally protected assets that the DEI is charged with overseeing. Therefore, if the author fails to comply, more serious steps will be taken, which may include legal action.

To Contact the DEI 8

Please refer to our Contacts page to connect with the Doug Engelbart Institute directly.