Open Source: Paper Tiger, Hidden Problems? (TechNewsWorld) [LWN.net]

Open Source: Paper Tiger, Hidden Problems? (TechNewsWorld)

Posted May 19, 2005 16:04 UTC (Thu) by pjs (guest, #10927)
Parent article: Open Source: Paper Tiger, Hidden Problems? (TechNewsWorld)

Accordingly, if a programmer simply clicks on a button to download even the smallest packet of proprietary code and thereby agrees to its license, then that license may require the entire software program, which incorporates the proprietary code, to be made available to the vendor who supplied the proprietary snippet. This is true regardless of whether the programmer or employer ever intended others to be able to see, read, view and modify their software. Thus, a single click of the mouse may render an entire project otherwise confidential to be used for commercial gain by partners or competitors.

to post comments

Open Source: Paper Tiger, Hidden Problems? (TechNewsWorld)

Posted May 19, 2005 17:56 UTC (Thu) by proski (guest, #104) [Link] (1 responses)

IANAL, but I think it's only true if the programmer can enter binding contacts on behalf of his/her employer, which is normally not the case.

Open Source: Paper Tiger, Hidden Problems? (TechNewsWorld)

Posted May 19, 2005 20:11 UTC (Thu) by tcabot (subscriber, #6656) [Link]

I think it's only true if...

It's never true. Copyright law prevents you from distributing other people's code unless they grant you the right to do it. The GPL grants you the right to distribute code as long as you follow its terms. If you violate the terms then you must stop distributing the GPL code. No more, no less. The GPL does not, and cannot, force you to do anything, but if you violate its terms then copyright law, not the GPL, forces you to stop doing something (e.g. distributing the code).