On 2004-09-21 23:16:47 +0100 Josh Triplett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
For what it's worth, I agree entirely. No software patent is
legitimate, and clauses stating that you can't continue to use a piece
of Free Software while claiming that software infringes your patent
are
both Free and desirable.
That is a bug with some jurisdictions, not a problem in copyright law.
Attempting to use copyright law to fix all the world's ills is a short
road to madness. If you are in a swpat-afflicted place, then losing
your patent licence is sufficient to forbid use, as I understand it.
There seems little need to confuse copyright and patent laws.
Do these terms try to change the usual presumption that no-one has
wronged anyone? Bogus copyright accusations are also illegitimate, yet
the GPL does not state that you can't continue to use a piece of free
software while merely *claiming* that it infringes your copyright.
Does any free software copyright licence contain a "copyright defence"
clause similar to these "patent defence" clauses? Are there copyright
clauses which forbid even participating in copyright cases about that
work? Have they been or would they be regarded as following DFSG?
--
MJR/slef My Opinion Only and not of any group I know
Creative copyleft computing - http://www.ttllp.co.uk/
http://www.thewalks.co.uk stand 13,Lynn Carnival,12 Sep