Re: Debian and copyrights
Scripsit "Baptiste SIMON" <baptiste.simon@e-glop.net>
> In fact, anyone which is releasing his software under something like
> GPL or LGPL is able, if he is still holding the code copyright, to
> release a next release under any other license.
> I'd like to prevent this kind of problem without giving copyright to FSF
It is difficult to see what you feel is a problem here?
1. You're a user and you want to avoid the risk that the author
releases a bugfix release under a non-free license.
Then you're basically out of luck. But note that you don't have
any guarantee that the author will fix bugs *at all*. If he does
under an unacceptable license, you will be no worse off than if he
just dropped dead - and you can still fix the bugs in the original
free release yourself, or pay someone to do it.
2. You're the author and want to prevent *yourself* from switching to
a non-free license in the future. Hmm? The best way would be to
decide not to do it, and then have the strength of character to
stick to your decision.
3. You're one of several authors and want to prevent the others from
taking the work proprietary without your permission. In most
jurisdictions this will happen automatically - any distribution
at all requires the agreement of all authors, and if someone is
considering distributing under circumstances that are not allowed
under your earlier agreeement to licence under, say, GPL, then
they need to ask you (and all other authors) for permission.
I dimly remember that there may be jurisdictions (America?) where
any of several joint authors can authorize copying if only he
splits the profits fairly with other authors. To be paranoid, you
might want to draft a contract with the other authors where you
explicitly promise each other not to do that.
> note: I've not subscribed to your mailing list, so I would be pleased if
> you can add my to Cc:. Thanks in advance.
--
Henning Makholm "Y'know, I don't want to seem like one of those
hackneyed Jews that you see in heartwarming movies.
But at times like this, all I can say is 'Oy, gevalt!'"
Reply to: