On Sunday 17 April 2005 10:23 pm, Bart Alberti wrote: > I stand by what I said. The US Federal District courts are the first rung; > and a preliminary ruling has no doubt 'in terrorem' (as the lawyers like to > say) effect since nobody wants to be exposed liability. Until the court of > appeals rules (there are eleven circuits + 2 more) or the Supreme Court > opines, there is no real law. There are current cases which have been > widely noticed now pending at this very moment (to be decided by June > maybe) which will determine a lot. The g p l is quite probably generally > valid; but it is the construction put on it by the courts, not its literal > language, or what they, the g p l folks, think it means, that will decide. > The German cases look to support the general concept of the g p l and its > application; but that I think actually had a software application in view > --- correct me if I am mistaken (also, after all, by the way, 'nmap', which > is cited, is a program, most assuredly). > > The situation in Europe is unsettled. If the g p l is of 'viral' nature > that may itself run afoul of the law; to the extent attracts the content of > works, it may be invalid and a breach of the anti-trust acts besides and an > unjust appropriation restrained by the equity courts. The shoe, which fits > the g p l as to software, may well be over-extended as to anything else. > Time will tell and our opinions, although well intentioned and informed > (as, hopefully, they will be) remain, as they must, tentative and > premature. As long as everyone is aware of the issues, harm is minimized > > Practically, then, where does Scribus get its fonts, if it cannot really > distribute or recommend any with assurance? or hardly any? Does anyone want > to WRITE fonts for Scribus??? > Remaining constructive and optimistic, > I am, cordially, your humble servant, > Bart Alberti
Apparently, our little thread is news worthy. It just got /.'ed. http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/17/2118203 Hopefully, this will put the fsf.org and the writers of the gpl into a position to clarify font licensing and usage. Best Marvin
