Subj : Re: Copyright Issues?
To   : comp.programming
From : Joe Seigh
Date : Sun Jul 17 2005 09:00 am

Murray R. Van Luyn wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Where do programmers go to find out about free software copyright law?
> 
> I asked this guy if I could make significant alterations to some software
> that he distributes FOC, and then to redistribute my version, with
> appropriate acknowledgments, also FOC. He said okay but wanted to see a copy
> for approval beforehand. I spent a lot of time finishing the code, and then
> sent it off for final approval. Deathly silence...
> 
> My questions are:- 1) How much or how little work do I have to do to code
> before its considered a unique, independently owned work. 2) What can I do
> if the guy decides to start selling or distributing my un-released, code
> which was marked copyright & 'free for any purpose, both commercial and non
> commercial'.
> 
> Thanks for any helpful advice or appropriate direction that may be provided.
> 

Start here
http://www.opensource.org/site_index.php

I'm not sure what you mean by FOC.  To be on the safe side you should do a
complete rewrite.  "munging" the variable names is probably not sufficient.
As for question 2, probably not much, though if you did the open source
license right, he'll have to redistribute under those terms.  But if he's
smart he'll do what you're thinking of doing and rewrite your logic into
his code base and retain original ownership control over his work.

Copyrights aren't the same as patents.   They don't control ideas, just
expressions of ideas.  If you want protection for ideas, you'll have to
go a different route.

-- 
Joe Seigh

When you get lemons, you make lemonade.
When you get hardware, you make software.

.