On Sun, 12 Feb 2006 17:36:44 +0000 Graham Murray <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Stefaan A Eeckels <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > > The assertion that the GPL gives you the right to make unlawful > > copies is obviously incorrect, as it is not a right the copyright > > holder can grant. > > GPL or otherwise, is the copyright holder not the only person who > *can* give permission to make copies? Indeed, but he cannot grant you the right to make copies of something that doesn't belong to him. Do you really believe that a copyright holder can give me permission to make copies of files on *your* computer, whatever the license? Don't forget that you own the copy, but not the work. The right to make copies is with owner of the work. Your right to make copies of your copy depends on the license, but your right to refuse anyone to make copies of your copy is inalienable(*). Imagine that you have purchased a license from me. The software is my property, and I can license it as I please to whom I please, but I simply cannot give someone the right to make a copy of your property (i.e. the licensed copy you bought from me) even if that someone has legitimate access to your computer, and the license allows *you* to make copies. You own that copy, and whatever the license(*), you can refuse that someone makes copies of it. What the OP claimed was that the GPL allowed him to ignore the rights of the legitimate owner of the copy. This of course is patent nonsense, if only because the GPL is not an intrinsic attribute of the software, but an agreement between two parties, and thus external to the software, even if the text of a proposed license accompanies it. Take care, (*) I know one could write a license that stipulates that copies, and a male goat, must be provided to anyone who asks. However, only a fool would sign such a thing, so could those who like to dot the t's and cross the i's please refrain from bringing it up? Thanks. -- Stefaan -- As complexity rises, precise statements lose meaning, and meaningful statements lose precision. -- Lotfi Zadeh _______________________________________________ Gnu-misc-discuss mailing list Gnu-misc-discuss@gnu.org http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-misc-discuss
