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Date:      Wed, 27 Feb 2002 16:55:48 -0800
From:      Terry Lambert <tlambert2@mindspring.com>
To:        Rich Morin <rdm@cfcl.com>
Cc:        freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: First test of GPL in court
Message-ID:  <3C7D8014.A5502797@mindspring.com>
References:  <20020227122820.A64839@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org> <20020227142005.A16555@energyhq.homeip.net> <20020227132417.B64839@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org> <20020227052928.L12253@rain.macguire.net> <3C7D1454.6957B09E@mindspring.com> <p0510032db8a31e6f3943@[192.168.254.205]>

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Rich Morin wrote:
> At 9:16 AM -0800 2/27/02, Terry Lambert wrote:
> >Benjamin Krueger wrote:
> >>  I wish I could just forfeit any contracts I didn't want to deal with
> >>  anymore... I might be richer for it. ;)
> >
> >A contract is only valid if there is consideration exchanged.
> 
> Beeeeeeeeeeep!  The GPL does not rest on contract law.  Rather, it
> is based on Copyright and the unilateral ability of the copyright
> holder to control what is done with the copyrighted material.

The requirement that I distribute my sources as a result
of linking with GPL'ed code is a consequence of the
license, and the license _is_ a contract.

The UCSD P-code system was licensed under a Berkeley style
license, and rights to use it were revoked from all but
Apple Computer, Inc., who had negotiated a non-revokable
license, in return for consideration.

Similarly, the revocation of the Net/2 code release by UCB
following the settlement agreement with USL as a result of
the USL vs. UCB lawsuit was only possible because the
licensees had not provided consideration in return for
their license.

Please consult "Black's Law" for more information on Torte
law in the U.S..


-- Terry

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