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Examining an attack on the GPL
Examining an attack on the GPL
Posted Dec 4, 2003 11:43 UTC (Thu) by Wol (guest, #4433)In reply to: Examining an attack on the GPL by gleef
Parent article: Examining an attack on the GPL
Bearing in mind most Free Software developers are not based in the US, why should they register with the US Copyright Office?
I would EXPECT, as a matter of FAIRNESS, that if I sued an American company in America, that the lack of copyright registration would be irrelevant seeing as (a) I wrote my code in the UK and it's covered by UK copyrights, and (b) the Berne Convention applies.
I don't know exactly how it works, but under the convention I should have the ability to sue anyone, anywhere, for copyright violation and have my Berne rights enforced.
If necessary, I might have to register my copyright with the Copyright Office before suing, but no time limits should be applicable to that registration, seeing as if that American company didn't transact business in the UK I would have no means of redress should I rely on the UK courts.
Cheers,
Wol
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Examining an attack on the GPL
Posted Dec 5, 2003 0:28 UTC (Fri) by eread (guest, #1918) [Link]
I have studied Australian Copyright Law (though I wouldn't ever consider myself an expert - IANAL) and from my reading of if someone has copyright with respect to a given work, then Australian laws will uphold that.In some provisions, the person must be a "qualified person" for the provision to take effect. But in most general provisions, as far as I can see, Australian courts will respect and uphold your copyright in Australia, even if the copyright comes from an overseas country (probably signaturies to the Berne Convention.
I hope this is somewhat accurate.
Examining an attack on the GPL
Posted Dec 5, 2003 0:29 UTC (Fri) by eread (guest, #1918) [Link]
A Qualified person being one who is an Australian, or who created the work in Australia.I don't think one need be an "expert in the field" like some patent law.