I understand the need for a license, the use of copyright law, to keep software free through copy-left. But if you are not interested in keeping your software free, then why would you release your software with a license?
There is a lot of talk about the possible appropriation of open work by others, and the possible adverse effect on the original authors (a third party might claim intellectual copyrights and sew you). Are there any documented cases of such events? Is this even a real threat? I can only find vague references like "in some cases some firms went nasty" (e.g., The Scope of Open Source Licensing, Josh Lerner and Jean Tirole, http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/lernertirole2.pdf), and it begins to sound like an urban myth (subliminal Coca Cola ads in movie theaters, anybody? :-P).
And why is there a disclaimer? Are we really afraid that we will be sued for damages by something we give away for free (as in free beer)? Are there any documented cases of this happening? Or is this self-inflicted FUD?
Met vriendelijke groeten,
Jan Dockx
PeopleWare NV - Head Office Cdt.Weynsstraat 85 B-2660 Hoboken Tel: +32 3 448.33.38 Fax: +32 3 448.32.66
PeopleWare NV - Branch Office Geel Kleinhoefstraat 5 B-2440 Geel Tel: +32 14 57.00.90 Fax: +32 14 58.13.25
http://www.peopleware.be/
"The straightforward truth of the matter is free unmoderated chat isn't safe," said Geoff Sutton, European general manager of Microsoft MSN.
<http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-5081203.html>
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