On 2/24/2020 10:32 AM, Chris Angelico wrote:
On Tue, Feb 25, 2020 at 2:25 AM Antoine Pitrou <solip...@pitrou.net> wrote:
I'd like to point out that the relevant perspective here isn't PSF
policy as much as copyright law.
Since Python is copyrighted in the US and the license specifies Virginia
as the state of jurisdiction, I presume we can reference US law and
precedents.
Something as trivial as a typo fix
for sure isn't copyrightable, so there's no point in requiring a CLA
for it.
Copyright serves to protect 'creative expression'. Facts are not
creative expression. (But they can be creatively expressed.) A typo
fix changes a 'creative spelling' to a standard spelling, found in
dictionaries, that is nearly always unique and never, that I know of,
has more than two choices. They can be made by programs, and multiple
fixes in one PR are the result of such programs.
Grammar fixes are similar in standardizing 'creative writing'. Link
fixes usually update changed facts.
For more involved changes, things are less clear, and a court
would be the final authority; but that's admittedly an argument for
erring on the side of caution and requiring a CLA for *any* non-trivial
change.
I agree. If a change is subject to discussion and disagreement beyond a
choice of facts, best to have a CLA.
I don't think anyone disputes that the CLA is needed for any
non-trivial change. The question is, what constitutes a non-trivial
change? > Is it subjective? What's the smallest copyrightable edit
(which may or may not be related to the smallest copyrightable piece
of text)?
US courts have wrestled with this as people have tried to claim
copyright on short bits of language, music, or movement. I am pretty
sure that two words, notes, or positions (and the transitions between)
are generally considered too short. (Which is why game emotes can
legally copy 'signature' dance moves that consist of 'start pose
transition to end pose'.)
Does it depend on context - is fixing a link more trivial
than fixing a piece of English?
Depends on the length of the 'piece'. See discussion of data above.
It'd be great to get a lawyer's firm stance on this. On the PEPs repo,
I've merged a good few simple PRs, and don't want to be putting the
PSF into legal trouble.
Sentences are usually creative, not merely trivial.
--
Terry Jan Reedy
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