Re: Scott Adams & Legalities
Tue, 14 Nov 95 18:02:26 MET
In article <Cw3pwwIeEjOL085yn@southwind.net>
ravenpub@southwind.net (Carl D. Cravens) writes:
>
>On Mon, 13 Nov 95 11:45:21 MET, U249026@vm.uci.kun.nl (Branko Collin) wrote:
>>The more popular meaning is anything that is freely distributable. When
>>you are talking about the Public Domain scene, or about PD-libraries,
>>you're using this meaning.
>
>Not necessarily. There is a lot of software and code out there which
>the author has given up all rights to. It's really public domain and I
>consider anything else to be simply "freely distributable" and never
>apply the words "public domain" to such software.
What I mean is that the PD-scene refers to all freely distributable
software, and PD-libraries/houses carry all kinds of freely
distributable software, not just PD, but also not excluding PD.
You cannot prescribe the meaning of a word, only describe it. Only
in legal matters you can attach one rigid meaning to word. So you should
never use the word Public Domain in your programs or docs if you don't
mean it, because that has all kinds of nasty legal complications.
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