Re: Debian and GNU

[tb@becket.net (Thomas Bushnell, BSG)]

Peter Makholm <peter@makholm.net> writes:

> But better ask why Debian should be a GNU project? I't wouldn't get us
> anything, but that copyright for programs (scripts and the like)
> probally should be handed over to FSF. Which means a lot of beucracy
> with little gain.

There is some gain to be had, which is important to consider.

First. assigning copyright to the FSF means that an organization  with
the ability and resources to deal with violators will be involved.

Second, the assignment you sign binds the FSF to only distribute under
a free software license.  If someone nasty sues the FSF for something,
and wins as a judgment all its assets, it would aquire the copyrights,
but it wouldn't be able to add restrictive distribution conditions,
because they would be bound by the terms of the assignment to the
FSF.  This doesn't work if the original author itself maintains the
copyright.

For that reason, even the employees of the FSF are authors of their
work in their own right (they are not legally "works for hire");
employees of the FSF then assign the copyrights to the FSF, so that
the FSF's hands are correctly tied.

Also, people should be aware that by assigning copyright to the FSF
the author does not lose any rights, including the right to distribute
their own software under non-free licenses if they should choose to do
so.

It's also not that much paperwork to do a simple assignment.

Thomas