HI Paul, On Dec 21, 2007 11:25 PM, Paul Martz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > The OSGPL spells out what I can and can't do with the OSG source code. > However, what happens legally when there is a discrepancy between source > code comment blocks and the OSGPL?
The OSG is a collective work, most parts are OSGPL, but some are GPL or other licenses. > For example, I'm looking at comment blocks in the FLT import plugin, and > they read: > > // > // OpenFlightR loader for OpenSceneGraph > // > // Copyright (C) 2005-2006 Brede Johansen > // > > The comment makes no mention of OSGPL and says, simply, that the source code > is copyrighted. The author of the code grants me no license to use the code > in the comment block. SO I'm not sure I'm legally allowed to copy or modify > this code. When the new OpenFlight loader was submitted Brede specifically made the OpenFlight loader OSGPL, prior to this it wasn't open sourced. Brede still does own the copyright to those parts he contributed, but this doesn't affect the OSGPL license. The same applies to the rest of the OSG as well, there are many copyright owners, but almost all grant the OSGPL license for the distribution of its work. > If I look at other code, I see even more worrisome discrepancies. For > example, the comment block from some of the TXP files says I have no rights > to use the code at all, as I don't have written permission from the > president of TERREX: > > /* ************************ > Copyright Terrain Experts Inc. > Terrain Experts Inc (TERREX) reserves all rights to this source code > unless otherwise specified in writing by the President of TERREX. > This copyright may be updated in the future, in which case that version > supercedes this one. > ------------------- > Terrex Experts Inc. > 4400 East Broadway #314 > Tucson, AZ 85711 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Tel: (520) 323-7990 > ************************ > */ Terrex submitted and contribute to the OSG's txp plugin, and they use the OSG themselves, as doe CAE their owners. It is intended by Terrex to be used in the way that the OSG uses it, and they way that the community use it. The txp base code is published Terrex explicitly for the purpose of inclusion with 3rd party applications/library, so if there is potential confusion then this would be worth clarifying with Terrex so that they can tidy up their licensing notes to avoid any ambiguity. Robert. > So, my question is: what trumps what, legally: the OSGPL or the source code > comments? If the OSGPL wins out, then I have the legal right to go in and > remove those comment blocks... correct? And if the OSGPL _doesn't_ win > out... Then what have we got? Its not a matter of trumping, but of compatibility. _______________________________________________ osg-users mailing list [email protected] http://lists.openscenegraph.org/listinfo.cgi/osg-users-openscenegraph.org
