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GPL Question

Posted: Mon May 26, 2003 11:13 pm
by grim_fandango
if i code something and release it in GPL, are others allowed to remove the copyright notice when using the script/program?
i know people are not allwoed to remove the copyright when redistributing the script/program
but what about when using the program?
1. You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the
Program's source code as you receive it, in any
medium, provided that you conspicuously and
appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate
copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep
intact all the notices that refer to this License and
to the absence of any warranty; and give any other
recipients of the Program a copy of this License along
with the Program.

Posted: Tue May 27, 2003 4:16 am
by 9902468
Others are NOT allowed to remove the copyright notice.

Posted: Tue May 27, 2003 5:58 am
by volka
same source, http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html
3. You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it, under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:
[...]

Posted: Tue May 27, 2003 2:28 pm
by grim_fandango
the GPL is saying that others are not allowed to remove the copyright when copying or distributing the program or a work based on it
but what about when using the program?
is it covered in the GPL too?
is "a work based on it" means using the script or coding using the script?

i think it wont be much problem with programs that one runs in his/her own computer, cuz nobody else will see it
but what if it's a webscript? example, this forum software (phpBB)
what if someone use it but remove the copyright message or worse, change the copyright and put his name on it?
this will have an impact on the site visitors, not only the person who installed the forum :(

i also saw this topic when browsing around that says its allowed to do so (removing copyright)
is this true? :(

thanks for any answers/comments

Posted: Tue May 27, 2003 4:47 pm
by nielsene
When I asked the GNU people about this last year they said that it was not allowed and that version 3 of the GNU GPL would explicitly state that.
Partial answer at:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#IWantCredit

They mentioned that its a common question as more and more network/web services are developed where the code doesn't need to be distributed for it to reach a very broad audience.

I was also told that removing a copyright statement from a work is explicitly forbidden somewhere in the standard body of US law dealing with copyright, I don't have the esact USC reference right now.

If you want to have a stronger leg to stand on, look at the
http://www.affero.org/oagpl.html Its an alternate license, based on the GPL V2 with the network clause, which covers your concerns and is supposedly very similar to what GPL V3 will be (should it ever be finished)

Posted: Tue May 27, 2003 8:22 pm
by jason
And besides, whatever phpBB is released under, they always explicitly say you can't remove the copyright notice, so that kind of clears that up.

I can use the GPL for my license, and then make changes the supercede the GPL. It is my code afterall.

Posted: Wed May 28, 2003 3:31 pm
by grim_fandango
thanks for the explanation guys :)
i'll try that affero license