From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Christian Egli Subject: Re: Copyright/Distribution questions (Emacs/Orgmode) Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:09:38 +0100 Message-ID: <874ngitfh9.fsf@sbs.ch> References: <87ober717z.fsf@gmail.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Return-path: Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([208.118.235.92]:35616) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1UEzfw-0005xU-VM for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:09:57 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1UEzfu-00025L-1B for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:09:48 -0400 Received: from mail01.sbs.ch ([194.29.15.69]:50703) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1UEzft-00021j-QO for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:09:45 -0400 Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mail01.sbs.ch (Postfix) with ESMTP id 7BF77AC6 for ; Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:09:43 +0100 (CET) Received: from mail01.sbs.ch ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (mail01.sbs.ch [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id KmvFi4d5Y94p for ; Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:09:42 +0100 (CET) Received: from s05.sbszh.ch (s05.sbszh.ch [10.0.9.9]) by mail01.sbs.ch (Postfix) with ESMTP id E5296A73 for ; Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:09:42 +0100 (CET) Received: from localhost (unknown [127.0.0.1]) by localhost.sbszh.ch (Postfix) with ESMTP id CEED543CC05 for ; Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:09:42 +0100 (CET) Received: from s05.sbszh.ch ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (s05.sbszh.ch [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 22756-07 for ; Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:09:38 +0100 (CET) Received: from wharton (w302.sbszh.ch [10.0.41.2]) by s05.sbszh.ch (Postfix) with ESMTP id 96F0243CC04 for ; Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:09:38 +0100 (CET) In-Reply-To: <87ober717z.fsf@gmail.com> (Jambunathan K.'s message of "Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:26:16 +0530") List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Cc: emacs-orgmode@gnu.org The following message is a courtesy copy of an article that has been posted to gmane.emacs.devel as well. Jambunathan K writes: > I would like to withdraw my pleasure in having these files distributed > as part of Org distribution. These files have been published under the GNU GPL[1] which gives everybody the right to modify and redistribute them as long as they comply with the GNU GPL. In other words the current maintainer has every right to include these files in any further release of orgmode. > More specifically, I would like to know how copyright assignment works > for files that are not yet part of Emacs.=20=20 The copyright assignment is solely for the purpose of having one copyright owner. This helps for legal disputes and to change the license. However it is not needed for redistribution purposes, i.e. it gives you no legal recourse to stop redistribution of these files. Once you have published them under GNU GPL (and you have) everybody (including the current maintainer of orgmode) has the four freedoms that come with the GNU GPL[2] namely > the freedom to use the software for any purpose, > the freedom to change the software to suit your needs, > the freedom to share the software with your friends and neighbors, and > the freedom to share the changes you make. Again IANAL, but then the GNU GPL is pretty clear about this. Hope this helps Christian Footnotes:=20 [1] on mailing lists and in the git repo of orgmode [2] http://www.gnu.org/licenses/quick-guide-gplv3.html --=20 Christian Egli Swiss Library for the Blind, Visually Impaired and Print Disabled Grubenstrasse 12, CH-8045 Z=C3=BCrich, Switzerland ----- Die neue Online-Bibliothek der SBS: Mit wenigen Klicks zum Buch unter http://online.sbs.ch