[alicebot-archcomm] copyright on mailing list messages

[Anne Kootstra]

It indeed states on the mailing list main page that all code is considered
to be free software, although no licence has been mentioned. It would be an
unwise choice to assume that AIML code on the style list is published under
the GPL since it requires that 'derivative work' is also covered by the GPL.


Some companies, or freelance individuals, that use code examples from the
style list, or the general for that matter, may encounter difficulties using
them if GPL is considered to be applied. They, or their client, may not want
to risk that the AIML knowledgebase they developed can be used without their
(explicit) permission because of the use of GPL'ed code. 

In the case of a person creating an innovative AIML 'library' that he or she
wishes to profit financially from. If the GPL is applied to code examples on
the mailing list that this programmer has used in his library s/he will have
a large mix of licenses (GPL, NDA, Contract) to set up to protect his work
from being spread further without his permission. Not a very attractive
prospect.

In the case of the messages on the General, Developer and Style mailing list
being Public Domain (which is different from GPL) this wouldn't be the case.
In this situation the developer can apply his own licence to the entirety of
his work, including the code examples from the mailing list. He or she need
not to worry about any additional legal copyright hassle, since no
provisions are applicable to the example code. It remains available to all,
even after this programmer has released some of it under a proprietary
licence.

So I think the assuming that the messages in the mailing lists are public
domain would be best. 

--Anne



> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: alicebot-archcomm-admin@list.alicebot.org 
> [mailto:alicebot-archcomm-admin@list.alicebot.org] Namens Dr. 
> Rich Wallace
> Verzonden: vrijdag 21 februari 2003 9:03
> Aan: alicebot-archcomm@list.alicebot.org
> Onderwerp: RE: [alicebot-archcomm] copyright on mailing list messages
> 
> 
> Any code published on the -style mailing list is presumed to 
> be free software published under the GPL.  The other lists 
> are up for grabs.
> 
> >
> > Ernest said:
> >> Another problem might be AIML snippets already
> >> published in the mailing lists: They are GPL and can't be sold!
> >
> > I doubt this is the case since no mention of any licence is made 
> > during registration, nor is any notice of a licence being applied 
> > found on any message. It is therefore very unlikely that 
> code in AIF 
> > mailing list messages is GPL'ed.
> >
> > Although the issue of copy rights on mailing list messages 
> remains an 
> > issue. I do think that sharing code in a public forum 
> constitutes an 
> > indirect approval for the use of such a piece of code by other 
> > individuals. So, for that reason I think it may be 
> reasonable to state 
> > that all code in the AIF's mailing list archives is public domain 
> > instead of licensed at all.
> >
> > But this is something which should be decided by the appropriate 
> > courts. In any case the original author will always need to take an 
> > active role in the protection of his or her ideas.
> >
> > --Anne
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > alicebot-archcomm mailing list alicebot-archcomm@list.alicebot.org
> > http://list.alicebot.org/mailman/listinfo/alicebot-archcomm
> 
> 
> -- 
> Dr. Rich
> W A L L A C E
> ALICE A.I. Foundation
> drwallace@www.alicebot.org
> 
> 
> 
> 
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