Re: Plugins, libraries, licenses and Debian

[bts@alum.mit.edu (Brian T. Sniffen)]

Arnoud Engelfriet <galactus@stack.nl> writes:

> Brian T. Sniffen wrote:
>> Arnoud Engelfriet <galactus@stack.nl> writes:
>> > Anthony DeRobertis wrote:
>> >> 	A ''compilation'' is a work formed by the collection and
>> >> 	assembling of preexisting materials or of data that are
>> >> 	selected, coordinated, or arranged in such a way that the
>> >> 	resulting work as a whole constitutes an original work of
>> >> 	authorship. The term ''compilation'' includes collective
>> >> 	works.
>> >
>> > That would seem to fit much better than derivative work, yes.
>> > However I do wonder whether the combination of host and plugin
>> > constitutes an original work of authorship? There seems to
>> > be little creativity involved. 
>> 
>> Sure there is -- but it's performed by the person who wrote the
>> plugin, as he sculpts the interface to fit to the host, and to provide
>> useful functionality to it -- not merely by itself.
>
> Yes, the plugin most definitely is an original, creative work.
> It does not seem to qualify under the definition of "compilation"
> quoted by Anthony above, though. 
>
> If I take an existing host program and an existing plugin,
> configure the host to automatically load the plugin, and
> then bundle both into a single package, have I created such
> a "compilation"?

It doesn't matter, since you are almost certainly not the copyright
holder: the plugin author would have created that package much
earlier.  You're not doing anything creative, it's true -- just
following his implied instructions.

> The package is the result of collection and
> assembling of two preexisting materials. However, what is the
> reason for qualifying the resulting work as an original work
> of authorship? The definition seems to suggest that the
> _compilation_ must be original, not its parts.

I think I'm agreeing with you, but I'm not convinced I entirely
undersstand where you're going with this.

-Brian

-- 
Brian T. Sniffen                                        bts@alum.mit.edu
                       http://www.evenmere.org/~bts/