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    SubjectRe: GPL only modules [was Re: [GIT PATCH] more Driver core patches for 2.6.19]


    On Sat, 16 Dec 2006, Willy Tarreau wrote:
    >
    > All this is about "fair use", and "fair use" comes from compatibility
    > between the author's intent and the user's intent.

    No. "fair use" comes from an INcompatibility between the author's intent
    and the users intent.

    In other words, "fair use" kicks in EXACTLY when an author says "you can't
    copy this except when you [payme, stand on your head for two hours, give
    your modifications back]", and the user _disagrees_.

    Users still have rights under copyright law even when the author tries to
    deny them those rights.

    Of course, all reasonable true authors tend to agree with fair use. People
    who actually do "original work" tend to all realize that everybody really
    feeds off of each others works, and that we're all inspired by authors etc
    that went before us. So I doubt a lot of real authors, musicians or
    computer programmers will actually disagree with the notion of fair use,
    but it's important to realize that fair use is exactly for when the users
    and the authors rights clash, and the user DOES have rights. Even rights
    that weren't explicitly given to them by the author.

    > For this exact reason, I have added a "LICENSE" file [1] in my software
    > (haproxy) stating that I explicitly permit linking with binary code if
    > the user has no other choice (eg: protocols specs obtained under NDA),
    > provided that "derived work" does not steal any GPL code (include files
    > are under LGPL). On the other hand, all "common protocols" are
    > developped under GPL so that normal users are the winners, and everyone
    > is strongly encouraged to use the GPL for their new code to benefit from
    > everyone else's eyes on the code.
    >
    > This clarifies my intent and let developers decide whether *they* are
    > doing legal things or not.

    I think that's fine, and I think it may make some of your users happier,
    and breathe more easily. I don't disagree with that kind of clarification.

    But:

    > Don't you think it would be a good idea to add such a precision in the
    > sources ?

    I think it would be a hell of a lot better idea if people just realized
    that they have "fair use" rights whether the authors give them or not, and
    that the authors copyrights NEVER extend to anything but a "derived work".

    I find the RIAA's position and the DMCA distasteful, and in that I
    probably have a lot of things in common with a lot of people on this list.
    But by _exactly_ the same token, I also find the FSF's position and a lot
    of GPL zealots' position on this matter very distasteful.

    Because "fair use" is NOT somethng that should be specified in the
    license. It's very much something that people have DESPITE any license
    claiming otherwise.

    And I'd rather teach people that fundamental fact, than try to confuse the
    issue EVEN MORE by saying that my copyright only extends to derived works
    in the license text. That will just make people think that if the license
    does NOT say that, they don't have fair use. AND THAT IS WRONG.

    Linus
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