From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S1422629AbWA0VN4 (ORCPT ); Fri, 27 Jan 2006 16:13:56 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S1422630AbWA0VN4 (ORCPT ); Fri, 27 Jan 2006 16:13:56 -0500 Received: from mail1.webmaster.com ([216.152.64.168]:17159 "EHLO mail1.webmaster.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S1422629AbWA0VNz (ORCPT ); Fri, 27 Jan 2006 16:13:55 -0500 From: "David Schwartz" To: Cc: Subject: RE: GPL V3 and Linux - Dead Copyright Holders Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 13:12:22 -0800 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.6604 (9.0.2911.0) Importance: Normal In-Reply-To: <20060127203016.GA32055@dspnet.fr.eu.org> X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2670 X-Authenticated-Sender: joelkatz@webmaster.com X-Spam-Processed: mail1.webmaster.com, Fri, 27 Jan 2006 13:09:08 -0800 (not processed: message from trusted or authenticated source) X-MDRemoteIP: 206.171.168.138 X-Return-Path: davids@webmaster.com X-MDaemon-Deliver-To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Reply-To: davids@webmaster.com X-MDAV-Processed: mail1.webmaster.com, Fri, 27 Jan 2006 13:09:59 -0800 Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org > On Fri, Jan 27, 2006 at 11:50:43AM -0800, David Schwartz wrote: > > Correct. However, all the GPL-based ones grant rights > > *automatically* upon distribution. > Of course not. The license only applies if you accept it, and you > don't have to. It's not an EULA. You are correct that the license only applies if you accept it, but you are incorrect if you think that you can fail to accept the GPL and thus restrict the rights of those you distribute works to under some other license. Perhaps you're thinking that if I take a work that's dual-licensed under the GPL and some other license, then distribute it under that other license, the recipients don't get the GPL rights. That is not correct. GPL section 6 clearly states that the license is between the original author and the ultimate recipient. The distributor has no say or control over this automatic grant of license. Section 6 clears states that this license is: 1) Automatic, not subject to anyone's discretion. 2) From the original licensor, not the distributor. 3) Under these terms and conditions, that is, the GPL. The case is the same if you modify the work and then distribute it. All recipients still receive GPL rights from the original authors to the respective contributions of those authors. You cannot stop it. It is automatic, and it is from the original authors who agreed to give GPL rights to all recipients when they placed their works under the GPL. DS