Re: New 'Public Domain' Licence
M?ns Rullg?rd wrote:
> astronut <email@example.com> writes:
> > I am probably wrong here, since I joined the list in the middle of the
> > discussion, but can't you just put a notice at the top of the code like
> > this?
> > /* This code was written by <name> and is hereby released into the
> > public domain */
> There are supposedly jurisdictions where the concept of public domain
> does not exist, and such a statement would have no meaning.
The Netherlands is one. Well, we do have a public domain, but it
only contains works that by law have no copyright and works whose
copyright has expired.
_Probably_ a Dutch judge would treat the above statement as a
license that means "do whatever you want", since he's supposed to
reconstruct the intention of the author from such a vague statement.
And "do whatever you want" seems the intention.
But would <name> ever bring a lawsuit asserting copyright infringement?
(Well, maybe if his moral rights were infringed but he can't give
those up anyway)
Arnoud Engelfriet, Dutch patent attorney - Speaking only for myself
Patents, copyright and IPR explained for techies: http://www.iusmentis.com/