[colug-432] Open Source

[scott.mccarty]

I agree with all statements from William, but I would caution to reserve judgement of guilt. Tom could be investigating because somebody infringed his open source code? 

I will say, there are some organizations such as the GNU Free Software Foundation which may pursue a violation on your behalf, if the code is protected under the GPS. 

Best Regards
Scott M







Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone

-------- Original message --------
From: William Yang <wyang at gcfn.net> 
Date: 10/28/2013  6:23 PM  (GMT-05:00) 
To: Central OH Linux User Group - 432xx <colug-432 at colug.net> 
Subject: Re: [colug-432] Open Source 
 
On 10/27/2013 06:43 PM, tom wrote:
> Let's assume I take open source code after reading it's license and
> agreeing that any changes to it must be released as open source. I then
> modify the code, but then tack my own private license to it. How would I
> be punished for doing so?
>
> Tom
> _______________________________________________
> colug-432 mailing list
> colug-432 at colug.net
> http://lists.colug.net/mailman/listinfo/colug-432
>

First, you need an attorney to explain copyright law to you, not a 
technically oriented mailing list.

Second...  the consequences are going to depend on who the copyright 
holder actually is, the detailed license terms involved and what kind of 
damage is being caused to the copyright holder by your infringement (in 
the view of the copyright holder and, in turn, in the view of the courts).

Finally... copyright infringement can have fines paid to the government, 
damages paid to the copyright holder, and could include jail time or 
other sanctions by the courts.  It's not a great idea, and it's a really 
unwise to post on a public mailing list trying to figure this out. 
That's a discoverable record of your plan to willfully infringe, which 
as I understand it creates greater penalties.

-Bill
--
William Yang
wyang at gcfn.net
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