[Sussex] RMS Talking at Sussex Uni

[Steven Dobson]

Hi Dominic

On 10/03/11 14:11, Dominic Humphries wrote:
>> Oh, and Dominic, I liked your comment to the guy that doesn't get the
>> GPL.  I read just after posting my comment along the same lines.
> 
> I'm beginning to think he's trolling, TBH - he's had the point hammered
> home repeatedly but he's still apparently unable to grasp it. 

You might be right, but I'm more inclined to think that he can't see
beyond his own small, little box.  Maybe we should ask him how many
Apple uses have the source code to OSX to help with their own
development, but I doubt it.  I don't think he gets the simple concept
that GPU is free (no cost), the cost is "Share and share alike".

> I was a little disappointed not to have time to ask my question at the
> end: If copyright were limited back to five years as he proposed, then
> the vast majority of GNU code would be out of copyright and thus lose
> its copyleft: Anybody who wanted could distribute their own derivatives
> of that GNU software without GPLing it. I wonder if that would bother
> him, and/or the other creators?

You are right, much code would be out of copyright.  But that would
apply evenly.  Lots and lots of propriety code would also enter the
public domain.  How much easier would it be to interface with XP of that
code as legally available?

If we did go to a short copyright term then I would want to make some
other changes that I would want introduced at the same time:

1) Copyright would not be automatic.  All works would be in the public
domain unless copyrighted.

2). Mandatory publication of copyrighted works at termination of copyright.

Steve



-- 
Steve "Dobbo" Dobson