[wplug] More on the SCO suit

[sendai]

Ok, what am I missing? I thought the case was about their IP being
stolen and not about the legitimacy of the GPL? Aren't they in effect
saying that no source code was copied here, but that instead they are
contesting the distribution methods of other developers' code?

No wonder they wouldn't release details about specific infringements.

-----Original Message-----
From: wplug-admin at wplug.org [mailto:wplug-admin at wplug.org] On Behalf Of
Russ Schneider
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 4:22 PM
To: wplug at wplug.org
Subject: Re: [wplug] More on the SCO suit

Bill wrote:
> This one caused me to snarf my Dew....
> 
> http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=11031

Yeah, as I wrote quite quickly and inarticulately in COLA, I wonder if 
this strategy works if it will also apply to other mediums beyond
software.

Their argument according to the above article is that "federal law only 
lets people make a single backup copy of software".

Federal law states lets people make a single backup copy of works that 
are <i>copywritten</i> that's true.  But the GPL give explicit 
permission to do more than that.

Federal law also states that things like copyrighted literature, music, 
and video can only be copied for a single backup copy.  But if what SCO 
is arguing states that this is true even when the author gives explicit 
permission otherwise, then we have a whole new ballgame in this world.

I mean think about it, I release all my music online free to the public.

  I don't have a specific GPL type license I release it under, I just 
let anyone who wants to download it, take it.  So does this mean that 
these downloads are illegal no matter what I, the artist, says?  If one 
person on this list downloads one of my tunes, and then shares it with 
his friend (which I encourage and hope everyone does *grin*) is he in 
violation of federal copyright law because it supercedes my 
"Sugapablo's-download-all-you-want-I'll-compose-more license"?

If SCO headquaters were in West Penn, I'd suggest a massive rally on 
it's steps.

-- 
Russ Schneider (a.k.a. Sugapablo)
http://www.sugapablo.com

Latest track:
http://candidate.zhrodague.net/Sugapablo-A-145_BPM.mp3

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