Michael O'Keefe wrote: > >>From an FOSS POV, what happens when this term on copyright expires ? > >>Since Linux is now > 10 years old, if the copyrights had expired, > >>wouldn't anyone be able to use the code in any way they see fit, > >>including modification without returning the mod's to the public ? > > > >The original kernel? Certainly. The most recently published work? Not > >for ten years. > > But there's overlap (code from 0.99 days still in the current kernel) > How do you know which you can reuse under the terms of expired copyright ? > Does copyright keep extending with each addition ? (ie reset the clock) ?
It is with each publication, as I understand it. This is why we have a 1929 dictionary in the public domain now (hooray!) even though there is a lot of overlap with a modern dictionary. We are free to use te old one for any purpose (including pornos!) that we see fit. I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice. -john -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
