Re: Basic legal question: Publication of a fix to psgml

[Nicolas Neuss]

Bastien <bzg@altern.org> writes:

> Hi,
>
> Andreas Röhler <andreas.roehler@easy-emacs.de> writes:
>
>> When using GPLed code, you may simply publish your changed code
>> GPLed again.
>
> More precisely, GPLed code gives you the right to reuse and publish
> the code in your code if it's published under the same license.
>
> So yes, you can publish your changes to this code.
>
>> Thanks giving another example wrt to the noxious results of
>> copyright assigment policy, which undermines goals of GPL.
>
> Why pushing your agenda against copyright assignment into this thread?
>
> I don't think it is irrevelant.
>
> The question is "Can I publish the changes?" and the answer is "Yes".
>
> As for including psgml into GNU ELPA, the answer is "Not until all
> authors have sign the FSF copyright assignment".
>
> This is a policy that is particular to GNU Emacs and some other GNU
> projects.  It shows respect for potential authors (by not including
> their code without their permission) and protects actual authors (by
> allowing them to rely on the fact that changes against Emacs code by
> signed contributors can be part of Emacs.)

I think there is a more important reason for those copyright
assignments: The FSF considers its projects as so central for free
software that their copyright status has to be beyond any doubt.

For example, there could arise severe damage if some malicious company
(you name it) suddenly claimed that central pieces of GNU software were
contributed (maybe years ago) by some of their employees without
employer's permission.

Nicolas

[I will read answers to this, but (probably) not respond, because I also
think that this is the wrong newsgroup for this discussion.]