Copyleft/guide Changeset - 6d116fa1f310

Changeset - 6d116fa1f310

Parent rev.

Child rev.

[Not reviewed]

0 1 0

Bradley Kuhn (bkuhn) - 10 years ago 2014-03-18 22:04:51
bkuhn@ebb.org

Various wordsmith and formatting changes.

1 file changed with 32 insertions and 31 deletions:

gpl-lgpl.tex

0 comments (0 inline, 0 general)

gpl-lgpl.tex

➞

Show inline comments

@@ ... @@
 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 \chapter{Defending Freedom on Many Fronts}
 Chapters~\ref{run-and-verbatim} and ~\ref{source-and-binary} presented the
 core freedom-defending provisions of GPLv2\@, which are in GPLv2~\S\S0--3. \S\S
 --7 of the GPLv2 are designed to ensure that GPLv2~\S\S0--3 are not infringed,
 are enforceable, are kept to the confines of copyright law, and are not
 trumped by other copyright agreements or components of other entirely
 separate legal systems. In short, while GPLv2~\S\S0--3 are the parts of the
 license that defend the freedoms of users and programmers, GPLv2~\S\S4--7 are
 the parts of the license that keep the playing field clear so that \S\S
 --3 can do their jobs.
 Chapters~\ref{run-and-verbatim} and~\ref{source-and-binary} presented the
 core freedom-defending provisions of GPLv2\@, which are in GPLv2~\S\S0--3.
 GPLv2\S\S~4--7 of the GPLv2 are designed to ensure that GPLv2~\S\S0--3 are
 not infringed, are enforceable, are kept to the confines of copyright law but
 also  not trumped by other copyright agreements or components of other
 entirely separate legal systems.  In short, while GPLv2~\S\S0--3 are the parts
 of the license that defend the freedoms of users and programmers,
 GPLv2~\S\S4--7 are the parts of the license that keep the playing field clear
 so that \S\S 0--3 can do their jobs.
 \section{GPLv2~\S4: Termination on Violation}
 \label{GPLv2s4}
 GPLv2~\S4 is GPLv2's termination clause. Upon first examination, it seems
+GPLv2~\S4 is GPLv2's termination clause.  Upon first examination, it seems
 strange that a license with the goal of defending users' and programmers'
 freedoms for perpetuity in an irrevocable way would have such a clause.
 However, upon further examination, the difference between irrevocability
 and this termination clause becomes clear.
 The GPL is irrevocable in the sense that once a copyright holder grants
 rights for someone to copy, modify and redistribute the software under
 terms of the GPL, they cannot later revoke that grant. Since the GPL has
 no provision allowing the copyright holder to take such a prerogative, the
 rights for someone to copy, modify and redistribute the software under terms
 of the GPL, they cannot later revoke that grant.  Since the GPL has no
 provision allowing the copyright holder to take such a prerogative, the
 license is granted as long as the copyright remains in effect.\footnote{In
   the USA, due to unfortunate legislation, the length of copyright is
   nearly perpetual, even though the Constitution forbids perpetual
   copyright.} The copyright holder has the right to relicense the same
 work under different licenses (see Section~\ref{Proprietary Relicensing}
 of this tutorial), or to stop distributing the GPLv2'd version (assuming \S
 (b) was never used), but she may not revoke the rights under GPLv2
 already granted.
   the USA, due to unfortunate legislation, the length of copyright is nearly
   perpetual, even though the Constitution forbids perpetual copyright.} The
 copyright holders have the right to relicense the same work under different
 licenses (see Section~\ref{Proprietary Relicensing} of this tutorial), or to
 stop distributing the GPLv2'd version (assuming GPLv2~\S3(b) was never used),
 but they may not revoke the rights under GPLv2 already granted.
 In fact, when an entity looses their right to copy, modify and distribute
 GPL'd software, it is because of their \emph{own actions}, not that of
 the copyright holder. The copyright holder does not decided when GPLv2~\S4
 termination occurs (if ever), the actions of the licensee does.
 GPL'd software, it is because of their \emph{own actions}, not that of the
 copyright holder.  The copyright holder does not decided when GPLv2~\S4
 termination occurs (if ever); rather, the actions of the licensee determine
 that.
 Under copyright law, the GPL has granted various rights and freedoms to
 the licensee to perform specific types of copying, modification, and
 redistribution. By default, all other types of copying, modification, and
 redistribution are prohibited. GPLv2~\S4 says that if you undertake any of
 redistribution.  By default, all other types of copying, modification, and
 redistribution are prohibited.  GPLv2~\S4 says that if you undertake any of
 those other types (e.g., redistributing binary-only in violation of GPLv2~\S3),
 then all rights under the license --- even those otherwise permitted for
 those who have not violated --- terminate automatically.
 GPLv2~\S4 gives GPLv2 teeth. If licensees fail to adhere to the license, then
 they are stuck. They must completely cease and desist from all
 copying, modification and distribution of that GPL'd software.
 GPLv2~\S4 makes GPLv2 enforceable.  If licensees fail to adhere to the
 license, then they are stuck without any permission under to engage in
 activities covered by copyright law.  They must completely cease and desist
 from all copying, modification and distribution of the GPL'd software.
 At that point, violating licensees must gain the forgiveness of the
 copyright holder to have their rights restored. Alternatively, they could
 At that point, violating licensees must gain the forgiveness of the copyright
 holders to have their rights restored.  Alternatively, the violators could
 negotiate another agreement, separate from GPL, with the copyright
 holder. Both are common practice.
+holder.  Both are common practice.
 At FSF, it is part of the mission to spread software freedom. When FSF
 enforces GPL, the goal is to bring the violator back into compliance as

0 comments (0 inline, 0 general)