Subj : Re: Copyright Issues?
To   : comp.programming
From : Thad Smith
Date : Sun Jul 17 2005 05:15 pm

Murray R. Van Luyn wrote:

> Where do programmers go to find out about free software copyright law?

Caveat: I am not a lawyer.  That said, here's one online link: 
http://www.patents.com/copyrigh.htm

> 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.

Essentially all of it.  If the code contains a portion copyrighted by 
someone else, you need their permission to compile and/or distribute, 
which require making copies.

  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'.

Your code is automatically copyrighted, whether you stated it explicitly 
or not.  However, if you further, in your code, license anyone to use it 
"free for any purpose," I think you have effectively given away all 
control.  Free for any purpose would include distributing and selling it 
without any acknowledgment.  You probably have a claim, though, if the 
other party represented it as only his code.  He could, of course, claim 
inclusion of you portion "with permission of copyright holder", since 
you have already done that.  You, similarly, can distribute the modified 
code with his permission, which, I assume, he has not yet given.

Thad

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