Re: GPL 3 and derivatives
On Wed, Nov 07, 2007 at 09:20:14AM +1100, Ben Finney wrote:
> Shriramana Sharma <samjnaa@gmail.com> writes:
>
> > Seriously, does the FSF expect everyone who would modify a GPL-ed
> > work or create a derivative work to read and understand his
> > countries copyright laws?
>
> The FSF doesn't expect it. The legal system (in most jurisdictions I'm
> aware of) does.
Agreed. The start point is, "Here's a copyright work in which I don't
own the copyright. So what gives me the right, in the jurisdiction in
which I am located, to do this act (using, copying, modifying etc.)
that is otherwise restricted by the copyright?"
It is therefore your own responsibility to establish whether your
local copyright law will enable you to do this. In some jurisdictions,
it may be you have a basis under something like "fair use" for some
(quite narrow) purposes. Otherwise, you have to rely on the licence
you've been given, which is the GPL, and again it is your own
responsibility to establish whether the GPL will be effective in
giving you the rights you need to do what you have in mind.
The FSF isn't mysteriously imposing on people the obligation to comply
with their own local copyright laws. That obligation exists already.
John
(IAAL but TINLA)
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