Re: copyright years: mass-update every January 1

[Philip Rowlands]

On Thu, 25 Jun 2009, Alfred M. Szmidt wrote:

> It doesn't affect it at all, if you use a version of coreutils from
> 1980, then the copyright term will be from that date.  If you use a
> version from 2100 then it will be from that date.

OK, but taken separately the files have/had dates to indicate the most 
recent amendment. I'm curious whether the "slavish copying" (to use a 
phrase from a relevant case) of old to new file, updating only the date, 
contributes sufficient originality to defend the change in public-domain 
date.

Just trying to illustrate the point here; I don't intend to start a long 
thread, merely taking an interest in clarity of copyright terms/expiry 
in general.


Cheers,
Phil