[MPlayer-dev-eng] KiSS of copyright

[D Richard Felker III]

On Fri, Mar 26, 2004 at 11:23:35AM +0100, Christof Buergi wrote:
> D Richard Felker III sagte:
> > Your class was taught by the idiots who want it to be that way.
> 
> Yeah, whatever.
> 
> > If you want me to believe this nonsense, SHOW ME THE LAW that says you
> > have to have a license. These is no such law.
> 
> Easy: http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/231_1/a19.html

Your law, not mine. I speak of US law.

> This means, that you have no right to use software unless you have an
> explicit acceptance from the copyright holder. A license is such an
> acceptance. To quote from GPL: "The act of running the Program is not
> restricted." This sentence gives you permission to run the software.

Read paragraph 5:

  5. You are not required to accept this License, since you have not
signed it.  However, nothing else grants you permission to modify or
distribute the Program or its derivative works.  These actions are

No mention of running the program. In fact, if you READ the FAQs and
such on the FSF's website, you'll see that this is the intent.

> > This is blatently a LIE. Why don't you READ the fucking GPL which
> > EXPLICITLY says you are not required to accept it to use the
> > software???
> 
> You undoubtly talk about clause 5. This clause void by law, at least
> in europe. Let me explain:

Then it's illegal to use GPL software in Europe. :))

Because...the GPL NEVER, AT ANY POINT gives you permission to "use"
the program!

> > In fact some idiotic authors of GPL software (which includes other
> > people's GPL code) make you click a click-thru GPL in order to
> > download the source. This is ILLEGAL, because the GPL does not allow
> > additional restrictions to be placed when copying/distributing, and
> > requiring someone to agree to the GPL ** IS AN ADDITIONAL RESTRICTION
> > **.
> 
> Well, at least in europe, it isn't, since clicking on an "I agree"
> button is not considered an agreement, here. But that's nitpicking.

It doesn't matter if it's considered an agreement. What matters is
that you're required to do it to get the source, and that's an
additional restriction.

Rich