On 2009-01-20 11:02, Michael Foord wrote: > M.-A. Lemburg wrote: >> [snip...] >> >>> Does the copyright concept even apply to an >>> abstract base class (I thought APIs were not >>> subject to copyright, just like database layouts >>> and language definitions)? >>> >> >> It applies to the written program text. You are probably >> thinking about other IP rights such as patents or designs. >> >> > > You need to read Van Lindberg's excellent book on intellectual property > rights and open source (which is about American law and European law > will be different). Mere collections of facts are not copyrightable as > they are not creative (the basis of copyright) and this is presumed to > apply to parts of software like header files and interface descriptions > - which could easily apply to ABCs in Python.
I doubt that you can make such assumptions in general. It's a case-by-case decision and also one that depends on the copyright law or convention you assume. See e.g. the WIPO copyright treaty: http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/wct/trtdocs_wo033.html#P56_5626 and the Berne Convention: http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/berne/trtdocs_wo001.html#P85_10661 and TRIPS: http://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/27-trips_04_e.htm#1 That said, for numbers.py there's certainly enough creativity in that file to enjoy copyright protection. > I recommend his book by the way - I'm about half way through so far and > it is highly readable Thanks for the pointer. -- Marc-Andre Lemburg eGenix.com Professional Python Services directly from the Source (#1, Jan 20 2009) >>> Python/Zope Consulting and Support ... http://www.egenix.com/ >>> mxODBC.Zope.Database.Adapter ... http://zope.egenix.com/ >>> mxODBC, mxDateTime, mxTextTools ... http://python.egenix.com/ ________________________________________________________________________ ::: Try our new mxODBC.Connect Python Database Interface for free ! :::: eGenix.com Software, Skills and Services GmbH Pastor-Loeh-Str.48 D-40764 Langenfeld, Germany. CEO Dipl.-Math. Marc-Andre Lemburg Registered at Amtsgericht Duesseldorf: HRB 46611 http://www.egenix.com/company/contact/ _______________________________________________ Python-Dev mailing list Python-Dev@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-dev Unsubscribe: http://mail.python.org/mailman/options/python-dev/archive%40mail-archive.com