Re: GPL and other licences

[David Kastrup]

Graham Murray <newspost@gmurray.org.uk> writes:

> David Kastrup <dak@gnu.org> writes:
>
>> Graham Murray <newspost@gmurray.org.uk> writes:
>>> For example you borrow from the library a book which comes with a CD
>>> containing GPL'd software. Under the terms of the GPL are you not
>>> entitled to make a copy of that software before returning the book
>>> and CD to the library? You do not need the library's (owner of the
>>> physical copy you copied) permission to do so.
>>
>> Not?  You mean, I can just walk into a library and start scanning with
>> a hand scanner or a digital camera from media that happen to contain
>> public domain material, without actually borrowing the stuff out?
>
> No I am not suggesting that at all. What I am suggesting is that I
> can borrow a book from the library and once it is in my possession I
> can do with it anything allowed by copyright law.

Because a library is a special agency, with special rules fixed in
special laws.

> I still do not see why the licence only applies to the owner of the
> physical copy and not to anyone who (legally) has access to the work
> (for whatever purpose). To answer the point raised about the
> postman, the reason I think this is different is that postman only
> has legal access to closed package and not to the contents thereof.

Cleaning personnel is not permitted to read unclosed material, either.
System administrators are not permitted to read mail that they have
legal access to.  And so on.  Physical access to content does not
imply permission to actually make use of the content in the same
manner as the owner of a copy.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum