www/licenses gpl-faq.html

[Richard M. Stallman]

CVSROOT:        /web/www
Module name:    www
Changes by:     Richard M. Stallman <rms>       12/09/20 12:21:56

Modified files:
        licenses       : gpl-faq.html 

Log message:
        Clarify about copyright and hardware designs.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/licenses/gpl-faq.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.178&r2=1.179

Patches:
Index: gpl-faq.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /web/www/www/licenses/gpl-faq.html,v
retrieving revision 1.178
retrieving revision 1.179
diff -u -b -r1.178 -r1.179
--- gpl-faq.html        29 Aug 2012 21:52:11 -0000      1.178
+++ gpl-faq.html        20 Sep 2012 12:21:38 -0000      1.179
@@ -2826,11 +2826,15 @@
 Any material that can be copyrighted can be licensed under the GPL.
 GPLv3 can also be used to license materials covered by other
 copyright-like laws, such as semiconductor masks.  So, as an example,
-you can release a drawing of a hardware design under the GPL.
-However, if someone used that information to create physical hardware,
-they would have no license obligations when distributing or selling
-that device: it falls outside the scope of copyright and thus the GPL
-itself.</p></dd>
+you can release a drawing of a physical object or circuit under the
+GPL.</p>
+
+<p>In many situations, copyright does not cover making physical
+hardware from a drawing.  In these situations, your license for the
+drawing simply can't exert any control over making or selling physical
+hardware, regardless of the license you use.  When copyright does
+cover making hardware, for instance with IC masks, the GPL handles
+that case in a useful way.</p></dd>
 
 
 <dt id="GiveUpKeys">I use public key cryptography to sign my code to
@@ -3574,7 +3578,7 @@
 <p>
 Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2012/08/29 21:52:11 $
+$Date: 2012/09/20 12:21:38 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>