Op Sat, 28 Aug 2010, schreef Dimitri Smits:
Hi,
(just hate it when you send something after re-reading it a few times, and a
minute later you know that there is something important you forgot to ask)
Since objectnames and interfaces are cloned from Delphi everywhere in the
fpc-rtl, I was wondering if this is legitimate use and not a copyright
violation?
ie: the "interface" is the same, the implementation is different (unless
trivial).
Is this, or is this not an issue?
The EU software directive says a few words about this matter:
"Protection in accordance with this Directive shall apply to the
expression in any form of a computer program. Ideas and principles which
underlie any element of a computer program, including those which underlie
its interfaces, are not protected by copyright under this Directive."
In other words: It is okay to copy the interface, but not its expression.
Copyright is about creative decisions. For example the order in which
procedures, variables are declared are creative decisions and thus part of
the expression of an interface. If you make the same creative decisions as
the original program, you violate copyright.
Generally safe is the clean room approach: Someone who doesn't know the
Delphi source code implements it from documentation. This is
internationally considered best practise and can avoid discussions wether
it is a violation or not. If you happen to know the Delphi sources, you
have to be carefull what you write.
The EU software directive allows us to develop FPC in a reasonably safe
way, but the borders between independent implementation and copyright
violation unfortunately is not black and white.
Daniël
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