[Scottish] Eben Moglen (GPL author) lecture Edinburgh, 26th June

[William Anderson]

Dan Shearer wrote:
> On Wed, Jun 13, 2007 at 09:53:13PM +0100, William Anderson wrote:
> 
>> "Eben Moglen, the lawyer behind the GPL family of licenses" = incorrect
> 
> For nearly 15 years, if you were a serious GPL violater the FSF counsel
> who would carry out the legal moves against you was Eben Moglen.  That's
> what "behind" means. When RMS asked Eben to act for him in connection
> with his (RMS') GPL2 it was because there was no lawyer behind the GPL
> until Eben came along.  Without enforcement the GPL wouldn't be much use
> to us.

That doesn't mean he was behind it :)  The police are not "behind" they 
law, since they don't make policy or legislation, they simply enforce it.

> Whatever -- let's lighten up, come along and ask him yourself!  I'm clearly
> not a primary source, maybe I got it wrong!

It's not about lightening up, when you attribute authorship of the GPL 
to Moglen and away from rms - and as much as i can't stand rms - it's 
unfair and it demands correction.  Sorry if you see that as unenlightened :)

-- 
_ __/|  William Anderson      |  Tim: Your cheese game is strong.
\`O_o'  neuro at well dot com | Zane: My cheese game. It's all about the
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    U  - Thhbt! GPG 0xFA5F1100 | -- Tim Westwood, Zane Lowe, R1, Dec 2005