🚀 go-pugleaf

zlsiial@cms.mcc.ac.uk (A. V. Le Blanc) writes:
>Aside from this quibble, is Andy saying that the GNU public license does
>not give people the right to use GNU software, or that the GNU public
>license in some way invalidates the rights of the authors? Is anyone
>seriously doubtful about the legal status of copylefted software?

How about "does the GNU copyright notice protect your code from
'exploitation'"?  I've never been convinced that it would.  I'd have a
lot more confidence in it if the "license" actually required a
signature, but those are difficult to obtain via FTP.  Still, the
intent is clear, and cheating could easily require time in court, so
it'll probably suffice until a really determined villain comes along.

And no, I'm not a lawyer, but I have had some unpleasant experience
with the seemingly random behavior of the courts.  Paranoia is always
appropriate, and it never hurts to get it in writing, whatever it is.

David Chase
Sun