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Re: Effect of transfer of copyright on free software licenses?


From: Barry Margolin
Subject: Re: Effect of transfer of copyright on free software licenses?
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:59:01 -0400
User-agent: MT-NewsWatcher/3.5.3b3 (Intel Mac OS X)

In article <reply_in_group-A4C678.16223718072009@news.supernews.com>,
 Tim Smith <reply_in_group@mouse-potato.com> wrote:

> Suppose I create a copyrighted work. I release it under a license such 
> as GPLv2. You use it, in a way that requires permission of the copyright 
> holder, but is in accord with GPLv2, so you are OK.
> 
> Suppose now that I transfer the copyright to someone else.
> 
> Do you now have something to worry about if the copyright assignee 
> wishes to stop you from copying, modifying, and distributing the 
> software?
> 
> The GPL is meant to be a bare license, not a contract, but doesn't that 
> mean it provides no protection if the ownership of the work changes?

I don't think the GPL allows for retroactive changes to the terms.  Once 
the code is licensed to you, the terms of the GPL apply as long as you 
meet your requirements.

-- 
Barry Margolin, barmar@alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA
*** PLEASE post questions in newsgroups, not directly to me ***
*** PLEASE don't copy me on replies, I'll read them in the group ***


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