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Date:      Mon, 2 Oct 2000 12:31:54 -0700
From:      Alfred Perlstein <bright@wintelcom.net>
To:        Mark Ovens <marko@FreeBSD.ORG>
Cc:        Jordan Hubbard <jkh@winston.osd.bsdi.com>, Will Andrews <will@physics.purdue.edu>, advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: stolen script?
Message-ID:  <20001002123154.T27736@fw.wintelcom.net>
In-Reply-To: <20001002180608.A252@parish>; from marko@FreeBSD.ORG on Mon, Oct 02, 2000 at 06:06:08PM %2B0100
References:  <bright@wintelcom.net> <55614.970457144@winston.osd.bsdi.com> <20001002180608.A252@parish>

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* Mark Ovens <marko@FreeBSD.ORG> [001002 11:54] wrote:
> On Sun, Oct 01, 2000 at 08:25:44PM -0700, Jordan Hubbard wrote:
> > > Like I said in the original email, I'm pretty sure src/COPYRIGHT
> > > covers all files originally imported into the repository.
> > 
> > I'm afraid that such "blanket coverage" would not be even remotely
> > legal, according to the Bern convention or otherwise.  All files must
> > bear the appropriate rcopyright text, especially given the fact that
> > we mix and match copyrights under /usr/src - /usr/src/gnu is obviously
> > not covered by src/COPYRIGHT for example.
> > 
> 
> Ah thank you. That was what I was wondering. I would imagine that a single,
> blanket coverage, copyright file would only be valid/legal if all the files
> it covered were *only* available in a single tarball (and then the
> copyright would have to be on the tarball "and all files contained
> therein".

I still think such blatant theft and mis-attribution should be
frowned upon.  While I'm aware with proper legal representation
one could probably say I don't have ownership of my own left foot,
it's the spirit of the thing which needs to be maintained.  If that
involves sending a reminder to someone that attribution is the
right thing to do then I see no harm in it.

It's not just our code that needs protection, it's the person taking
it and calling it thier own.  I would be less than impressed if
while giving an interview the candidate claimed credit for a slightly
modified version of something I know to be in our repository.

Last I checked the FSF is very diligent about making sure that not
only do all files contain thier standard disclaimer but they are also
very careful to update copyright dates before each release is made
for each newly touched file.

I think this be a good time to assign copyrights to all files
missing one to FreeBSD Inc or The FreeBSD Project or BSDi even?
I wouldn't have a problem with that as long as it was the standard
license (no advert clause of course).

-- 
-Alfred Perlstein - [bright@wintelcom.net|alfred@freebsd.org]
"I have the heart of a child; I keep it in a jar on my desk."


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