🚀 go-pugleaf

>Another interesting related issue to discuss publicly and not over a
>beer is that of compilation copyrights of collections of GPL documents
>and software; Jim Reid has hinted that the various {UK,EU}{UUG,NET}
>organizations have compilation copyrights on their tape distributions
>etc...; these may well cover GPL materials.
>
> .....
>
>The solution to this discussion is not talking over a beer; it would be
>
>1) the FSF defending their copyright and talking straight to EUUG/UKUUG
>and EUNET/UKNET about removing any fetters from the redistribution of at
>least the GPL material or else not distributing it

Sorry if what I say here has already been said, but I have been away
from Europe for a few months, and I missed the previous postings.

But, to set the record stright: There IS a copyright on EUUG software
distributions. This does NOT apply to the contents, except in exceptional
circumstances which are clearly expressed.

Anyone (being a member of the EUUG) is free to take any non-copyright
material from these tapes, re-package it in any way they choose, and give
it to anyone that they want to.

What they CAN'T do is to simply duplicate the tape.
Why ?, well, believe it or not, the compliaton of these tapes takes
considerable time, effort and money. This is paid for by EUUG members,
and is a service of the EUUG for its members.

In the past there have been instances of various groups of people taking
these tapes, duplicating them and giving them away, or even selling them.

EUUG makes no profit from this service, the tapes are "sold" at cost, which
is the total price of the work of compilation and manufacture of the tapes.
Obviously, someone making a few pirate copies on their companies machines
(maybe even on company tapes) can do the job cheaper. EUUG, nor its members
want to subsidise this sort of activity.

As for GNU software, we have one tape which is GNU only, this is distributed
under the conditions of cost + a small percentage for FSF.
The only reason for doing this is to give EUUG members the possibility of
getting their software in Europe, rather than paying transatlantic transport
costs on a real FSF tape.

Philip Peake, EUUG software distributions.