Re: [Fsfe-france] Linux Journal article by a lawyer on the notion of derivative work & implications of the GNU GPL

[Loic Dachary]

Laurent Guerby writes:
 > Hi, you might wish to react to this article:
 > 
 > <<When is one program a "derivative work" of another?>>
 > 
 > <http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=6366>
 > 
 > In particular
 > 
 > <<
 > [...] 2) The meaning of derivative work will not be broadened to include 
 > software created by linking to library programs that were designed and 
 > intended to be used as library programs. When a company releases a 
 > scientific subroutine library, or a library of objects, for example, 
 > people who merely use the library, unmodified, perhaps without even 
 > looking at the source code, are not thereby creating derivative works of 
 > the library.  [...]
 >  >>
 > 

        I can't comment on a subject that is almost certainly a matter
of dispute among scholars. However, it is unfortunate that a lawyer
not labelled "proprietary software" pushes in this direction. It would
be good to convince him to postpone this debate until things calm
down.

        Since proprietary software vendors, after the last halloween
document, may be inclined to soften their attacks on the legal side
and concentrate on the "cost effective" side, reviving their interest
may not be a good tactical move.

        Cheers,

-- 
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