Re: GPL and other licences

[John Hasler]

I wrote:
> There is a possible loophole here, though it is, I think, of little
> significance: As part of your job you gain possession of a CD of GPL (or
> other Free) software.  Without the knowledge or permission of your
> employer you take the CD home and copy it onto a blank CD that you own.
> if your employer finds out he can fire you for this, but it seems to me
> that you still own the copy you made and he can't take it away.

David Kastrup writes:
> He can ask the court to have it turned over.

The owner of the copyright might be able to as his copyright may have been
infringed.  I'm assuming that he and the employer are different.  I don't
think that the employer has any claim, though.  He still has his property
and has recourse under employment law for his employee's action.

> When we are, in contrast, talking about ubiquitous software, like an
> unmodified copy of gcc, anybody misappropriating a copy with the software
> and subsequently distributing it would likely have to face criminal
> charges...

I mentioned one copy and no distribution.  Even under current US law making
a single copy for your own use is not a crime (though it may be a tort).
-- 
John Hasler 
john@dhh.gt.org
Dancing Horse Hill
Elmwood, WI USA