Re: Question about license compatibility
On Saturday 23 July 2005 08:04 pm, Jeff Licquia wrote:
> On Sat, 2005-07-23 at 17:11 -0700, Sean Kellogg wrote:
> > This is a difficult situation that is worth commentary. Assume for a
> > moment that the U.S. has some strict export restriction. As a U.S.
> > citizen I am bound by those laws and cannot legally violate them.
> > Further, if I am to distribute software it is entirely possible that the
> > law prohibits me from distributing that software to citizens of certain
> > nations and to ensure those who receive copies do the same.
> >
> > This means I have have a responsibility to ensure others don't distribute
> > and cause me to break the law. The only tool by which I have to do that
> > is the license.
>
> Is this really true?
Sorry if I didn't make it clear that I am very much talking about
hypothetical. I know that with embargoes American citizens have certain
responsibilities to ensure the goods the ship internationally do not end up
in the hands of certain nations. I can't say this applies to software, or if
such an embargo is even going on (outside of our long standing Cuban
embargo).
My interest, I guess, is whether the DFSG will forbid a developer from having
their code distributed if they live in a country with restrictive export
laws?
-Sean
--
Sean Kellogg
3rd Year - University of Washington School of Law
Graduate & Professional Student Senate Treasurer
UW Service & Activities Committee Interim Chair
w: http://probonogeek.blogspot.com
So, let go
...Jump in
...Oh well, what you waiting for?
...it's all right
...'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown
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