Re: The worst that can happen to GPLed code

[David Kastrup]

prj@po.cwru.edu (Paul Jarc) writes:

> Stefaan A Eeckels <tengo@DELETEMEecc.lu> wrote:
> > Finally, why go against the stated wishes of the author
> > or copyright holder? It's not that using the GPL is some
> > kind of abomination that needs to be circumvented to keep
> > the Universe's moral balance intact, is it?
> 
> If Alexander's view were to hold up in court, it wouldn't apply only
> to GPL'ed works.  It would apply to all works - in particular, we
> would be more free to make use of proprietary works (we think) we
> are now.
> 
> Also, proprietary vendors might be less afraid to tie their works to
> GPL'ed works, so free software could become more widespread.

So what?  It is irrelevant speculating about a world in which the
courts followed Alexander's interpretation.  Reality is what we are
stuck with.

As you can see with the SCO/IBM court case, even ridiculously far more
extended claims of derivation and copyright don't get thrown out of
court.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum