Re: Plugins, libraries, licenses and Debian

[mru@kth.se (Måns Rullgård)]

Edmund GRIMLEY EVANS <edmundo@rano.org> writes:

> Måns Rullgård <mru@kth.se>:
>
>> I know that is how law works.  I just find it strange, that the GPL is
>> so explicit on this point, and yet doesn't bother to clarify at all
>> what a "derived work" might be, just to take an example.
>
> I suppose the idea is to have the GPL apply as broadly as possible.
> Anyone who wants a clarification of "derived work" that is valid for
> their position in the space-time continuum should visit a law library.

The problem is that all such definitions are based on the notion that
a "work" is either something tangible, or a performance act.  They
simply don't apply well to computer programs.

-- 
Måns Rullgård
mru@kth.se