Re: [O] Org-mode exporters licensing

[Marcin Borkowski]

On 2015-07-27, at 10:42, Eric S Fraga <address@hidden> wrote:

> On Monday, 27 Jul 2015 at 10:06, Marcin Borkowski wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I'm preparing a tutorial on writing Org-mode exporters.  To this end,
>> I'm writing a (simplistic) Oddmuse/WikiCreole exporter.  Rather
>> obviously, I'm modeling it on existing exporters (mainly ox-latex),
>> which seem to share a lot of structure (function names and docstrings in
>> particular).  I'd like to put my code in public domain.  However,
>> I reuse parts of GPL'd code (as I mentioned, quite generic ones, but
>> still).  Is it fine, or should I expect a visit from EFF lawyers or
>> something?
>
> If you reuse GPL code, you have to distribute your code under GPL as
> well basically.  From the COPYING file in the org distribution:

See how stupid this whole copyright law swamp is?

What if I reuse just the basic structure of sentences in the docstrings,
like in "Subject + verb + preposition + object"?  Do I have to use GPL
then, too? ;-)

And what if I reuse the naming convention of the functions, but to make
life easier, I'll just copy large fragments of code and do
a query-replace on them?  (This is serious.)

>     For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether
>     gratis or for a fee, you must pass on to the recipients the same
>     freedoms that you received.  You must make sure that they, too,
>     receive or can get the source code.  And you must show them these
>     terms so they know their rights.
>
>     Developers that use the GNU GPL protect your rights with two steps:
>     (1) assert copyright on the software, and (2) offer you this License
>     giving you legal permission to copy, distribute and/or modify it.

I know that.  My question is more like "what does it mean to `reuse'
code/text".

> Oh, and it's FSF lawyers you should worry about, not EFF!  Two different
> organisations albeit with some overlap in goals.

My bad, of course I meant FSF.

> HTH,
> eric


-- 
Marcin Borkowski
http://octd.wmi.amu.edu.pl/en/Marcin_Borkowski
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
Adam Mickiewicz University