Sven Luther <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Well, no, the at arm length is about executable code, since you recognize it > is data, the whole thing is moot and it is not a derived work.
I think this is too quick. See the first sentence of the GPL, it doesn't apply to programs only: "This License applies to any program or other work which contains a notice placed by the copyright holder saying it may be distributed under the terms of this General Public License." But I admit that I was wrong, probably your flasher and the flash image together are a collective work. > Consider the case of a compression program which produce auto-uncompressing > files. Is the compressed file a derivative work of the compression program, or > just data. I think if in that case there is no doubt, and the flasher is > mostly the same case, since it basically uncompresses the firmware, and moves > it to the flash instead of the filesystem. I have to admit that I'm not sure about this one. I do agree that this feels like the GPL shouldn't cover the contents in this example. But as I wrote in my other mail, the GPL is pretty broad in its demands. So one could interpret it like: the sfx archive is a collective work (extraction software + content), and for collective works the GPL demands distribution under GPL for everything. If you wanted to start distributing copyrighted content using self-extracting archives, I would recommend using something other than a GPL compression program, just to be sure. > Do you believe then also believe that a linux kernel with embedded initrd in a > .initrd section of the elf kernel file constitute a derived work of said > kernel ? Don't understand... I'm not a developer, just a Debian user, and I don't use initrd (as far as I know). What is embedded where? I believe that it's a derived work if one takes an existing work or part of it and creates something new out of it, so in the end there is only one work. I know this is not very precise. Michael Below -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
