Date: Tue, 18 Feb 1997 21:59:51 -0500 From: Joel Ray Holveck <joelh@gnu.ai.mit.edu> To: nate@mt.sri.com Cc: nate@mt.sri.com, dg@root.com, ben@narcissus.ml.org, obrien@nuxi.com, chat@freebsd.org Subject: Re: GPL Message-ID: <199702190259.VAA11531@kropotkin.gnu.ai.mit.edu> In-Reply-To: <199702190019.RAA19825@rocky.mt.sri.com> (message from Nate Williams on Tue, 18 Feb 1997 17:19:54 -0700 (MST))
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>> >This is why the FSF requires that all submitters of code to their tools >> >sign over the Copyright to the FSF, which apparently will make sure the >> >code is always free. (Although last night I had a interesting >> >discussion on that point where it would be possible that the code could >> >become 'non-free') >> ENQ? Point: The FSF has accepted large amounts of code (ie, I believe >> all of the code from its major hackers) on the stipulation that it >> will be forever free. >What if the FSF were 'dissolved' for some reason (say due to the death >of RMS), and a commercial company bought the assets (which includes all >of the existing GPL code). The code at that point would be the property >of this company, who could decide to 'take it propriatary'. The assimilating company would still have the stipulation on its shoulders. It is a legal contract, and by taking the code, they also take all contractual obligations associated therewith. >When a company/corporation no longer exists, it's assets and contractual >obligations are up in the ari. They are up in the air, and they will fall. Because the obligation is associated with the code, it comes as a package. -- http://www.wp.com/piquan --- Joel Ray Holveck --- joelh@gnu.ai.mit.edu All my opinions are my own, not the FSF's, my employer's, or my dog's. Second law of programming: Anything that can go wrong wi sendmail: segmentation violation -- core dumped
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