Re: DRAFT: debian-legal summary of the QPL

[Walter Landry <wlandry@ucsd.edu>]

Steve Langasek <vorlon@debian.org> wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 22, 2004 at 04:14:44PM -0400, Walter Landry wrote:
> > As another example, what if there were a jurisdiction where recipients
> > automatically receive the right to modify and distribute unless
> > otherwise explicitly specified.  Then a simple "Copyright (C) 2000
> > Steve Langasek" would be free.
> 
> The difference between this and the prior example is that in the
> first case, the *government* has additional rights over the
> software, whereas in the second case, it is the *author* who has
> lesser rights over (control of) the software.  Yes, in this
> hypothetical jurisdiction, a mere copyright statement would be free;
> but we are concerned about freedom at the international level, so we
> need to take a "least common denominator" look at the rights of
> copyright holders.

So if the lowest common denominator (i.e. the law in all countries)
became

  "If you distribute something under the GPL, you must give the
  government a copy"

would the GPL be free?

Regards,
Walter Landry
wlandry@ucsd.edu