(Sec. 101):
''joint work'' is a work prepared by two or more authors
with the intention that their contributions be merged
into inseparable or interdependent parts of a unitary whole.
(Sec. 201(a)):
Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially
in the author or authors of the work. The authors of a joint
work are coowners of copyright in the work.
See also:
<http://biz.findlaw.com/intellectual_property/nolo/faq/BABFA71E-97C9-
479F-8A9D4C3DB2498663.html#A19C3BE3-4459-4340-B8817F3B75D22ECD>
<http://profs.lp.findlaw.com/copyown/copyown_3.html>
<http://library.lp.findlaw.com/articles/file/00102/004454/title/
Subject/topic/Intellectual%20Property%20Law_Copyright/filename/
intellectualpropertylaw_1_233>
<http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/cybrscen.htm>
<http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/metaschool/fisher/joint/links/cases/
childress.html>
<http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/metaschool/fisher/joint/links/cases/
erickson.html>
So, I wonder, how many open-source works qualify as joint works? There
would certainly be some benefits (e.g., making clear who can sue for
copyright infringement --- any of the authors) but some serious
downsides too (like any of the authors being able to grant
non-exclusive licenses, without the other authors' consent).
