Re: Right to copy source code

[Alexander Terekhov]

David Kastrup wrote:
[...]
> > Your "program" is merely an aggregation ("collective work" at most
> > if selection is creative enough) of multiple computer program works.
> 
> "copy the source code that I need to my project and compile it"...
> Sorry, but that's not even borderline contentious: of course this
> constitutes creation of a derived work, not an aggregation.

Only in the GNU Republic. That's because in the GNU Republic, 
linking creates a "derived work" (see the GNU Copyleft Act) akin 
to (quoting renowned GNUtian Alan Mackenzie) "embryo which is 
derived from the egg and sperm." 

Accordingly, GNUtians believe that linking is akin to sex without 
condoms (and that it is not oral or anal) resulting in 100% rate 
of embryo (partner is a side effect) contamination by the GPL 
virus. 

To OP: as for the up to date legal regime on software combinations 
outside the GNU Republic, see

http://www.usfca.edu/law/determann/softwarecombinations060403.pdf

and also

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=957371

(in short, compilers and linkers don't create derivative works).

Hth.

regards, 
alexander. 

--
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