On Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 2:33 PM, Frank Warmerdam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > P Kishor wrote: >> >> Any right is only as good as its defense in the court. Just because >> reputable IP lawyers may draft copyright assignments in works that >> don't yet exist doesn't mean that actual copyrights in those works >> exist. > > Puneet, > > I don't claim that the copyright exists before the thing being > copyrighted exists. Only that it is possible to write a contract > that grants that copyright in advance of it actually existing. > The actual assignment for each chunk presumably takes place as > it is created and the copyright comes into existance. > > I am doubtful that this tangent is really important to the question of > whether these folks can assign the copyright of their work-to-come to > OSGeo. >
Yes, you are correct in stating that a contract can be written granting rights in one's future work to someone else. That is how "work-for-hire" works, for example. You and I were indeed talking slightly past each other. I interpreted Bart's question at face value -- can "OsGeo to take copyright for a project which yet has to form." The answer is "no." There are no rights yet, so nothing can be taken. On the other hand, can a creator of a work give up one's rights in future work to OSGeo? Sure, based on a contract, one can. Regards, -- Puneet Kishor _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss