>Peter Scott writes:
>> So let's give this one up and move on.
>I agree. We're gearing up to have a ton of lawyers talking at OSCON
>this year, so let's save up questions like these and take them to the
>lawyers in July.
This noxious issue, using, as it turns out, this module's plight as a starting
point for the ensuing "discussion", figured on /. just this past Friday, the
day after Johan's initial mail.
The leading summary was:
"There have been two cases recently where websites have requested
the removal of modules from CPAN. These modules could be used
to access the websites (EuroTV and Streetmap) from a PERL
program. The question being asked on the mailinglists (threads
about EuroTV and about Streetmap) is 'can companies dictate
what software you can use to access web content from their
server?'"
http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=53128&cid=0&pid=0&startat=&threshold=3&mode=nested&commentsort=4
There are a few possible insights there amongst the typical drivel, including
the notion that data may not be copyrighted and that furthermore, copyright
law uniquely addresses the redistribution of copies and never simple personal
presentation style choices, ie. use, and thus does not properly apply to these
situations in the first place, attack lawyers' threats notwithstanding.
This public service message is *not* meant to fan the flames for this thread
(requiescat in pacem) on the Perl Advocacy mailing list. It just might,
however, provide concerned individuals with some additional food for thought,
the fruits of which they could bring with them to the conference in July.
--tom
