Paul Kelly wrote:
On Fri, 21 Mar 2008, Markus Neteler wrote:
Hi PSC,
in our COPYING file and other places we still list FBK as primary
headquarter. Martin suggested to change that (although he's still there).
http://trac.osgeo.org/grass/browser/grass/trunk/COPYING
Proposal (although I would prefer an European address ;-) ):
...
The Geographic Resources Analysis and Support System (GRASS)
Geographic Information System (GIS) is Copyright by the
GRASS Development Team headquartered at the
Open Source Geospatial Foundation, USA.
...
Questions regarding GRASS GIS should be directed to the
GRASS Development Team at the following address:
GRASS Development Team
c/o M. Neteler (GRASS PSC Chair)
Fondazione Mach - Centre for Alpine Ecology
38100 Viote del Monte Bondone (Trento)
Italy
neteler osgeo.org
http://grass.osgeo.org/community/team.php
...
What's your opinion?
Well the GRASS development team isn't a legal entity anyway. Is it not
true that the copyright of the GRASS code is held by its individual
authors? Changing the definition of the "GRASS development team" from
being associated with a particular physical location to being associated
with an organisation doesn't really improve or clarify anything IMHO.
Another point could be that the reason for that phrase being there was
to associate a physical location/place with the copyright in case that
was important or required. But OSGeo is an organisation rather than a
location so that is lost too with the proposed change.
My inclination would be to not bother changing anything unless we're
going to do a thorough overhaul and make sure it is correct and complies
with whatever relevant laws etc.
Paul,
I tend to agree. If the headers are changed, I would suggest the
text "is Copyright by members of the GRASS Development Team..." to
be more clear on the legal reality. I presume the physical contact
address is only going to appear in the main LICENSE file right? No
point having to update it in 1000 places each time Markus moves, or
a new GRASS PSC chair is selected.
Generally speaking I don't think a great this issue is terribly
legally important. Copyright remains with the contributors unless
otherwise altered, and the association of the source code with the
license is well established.
Best regards,
--
---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush | President OSGeo, http://osgeo.org
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