Programming Help

Web Development



What's Here?

  • Members: 109,295
  • Replies: 413,785
  • Topics: 62,903
  • Snippets: 2,286
  • Tutorials: 607
  • Total Online: 1,180
  • Members: 53
  • Guests: 1,127

Who's Online?

Welcome to Dream.In.Code
Getting Help is Easy!

Join 109,295 Programmers for FREE! Ask your question and get quick answers from experts. There are 1,180 online right now! We've got more than 500 tutorials and 2,000 snippets. Join and find out why Dream.In.Code is the #1 programming help community on the internet! Registration is fast and FREE... Join Now!



GPL question.

 
 Reply to this topicStart new topic

GPL question.
yanom
post 25 May, 2008 - 04:58 PM
Post #1


New D.I.C Head

*
Joined: 5 Apr, 2008
Posts: 46


My Contributions
Is it necessary to copyright my program before releasing it under the GPL?

(My partner is PARANOID, and is not willing to have anything copyrighted under his name. He doesn't even want us to copyright it under my name, because he is afraid that it will enable someone to track him down. )
User is offlineProfile CardPM

Go to the top of the page


perfectly.insane
post 25 May, 2008 - 05:26 PM
Post #2


D.I.C Addict

Group Icon
Joined: 22 Mar, 2008
Posts: 509



Thanked 38 times
My Contributions
IANAL, but in order for the GPL to be anywhere near enforceable, one would have to copyright it. The GPL gives others a license to modify and redistribute your work (under the terms of the license), whereas if they don't accept your license, then normal copyright rules apply (but that requires a copyright).
User is online!Profile CardPM

Go to the top of the page

Tom9729
post 25 May, 2008 - 08:08 PM
Post #3


Debian guru

Group Icon
Joined: 30 Dec, 2007
Posts: 1,401



Thanked 7 times

Dream Kudos: 325
My Contributions
If you don't want people to know who you are then don't release anything. wink2.gif
User is offlineProfile CardPM

Go to the top of the page

yanom
post 29 May, 2008 - 02:17 PM
Post #4


New D.I.C Head

*
Joined: 5 Apr, 2008
Posts: 46


My Contributions
QUOTE(perfectly.insane @ 25 May, 2008 - 05:26 PM) *

IANAL, but in order for the GPL to be anywhere near enforceable, one would have to copyright it. The GPL gives others a license to modify and redistribute your work (under the terms of the license), whereas if they don't accept your license, then normal copyright rules apply (but that requires a copyright).


O. Well I wonder if GNU will let me copyright it under the GNU Foundation's name?

This post has been edited by yanom: 29 May, 2008 - 02:24 PM
User is offlineProfile CardPM

Go to the top of the page

MorphiusFaydal
post 29 May, 2008 - 03:09 PM
Post #5


D.I.C Addict

Group Icon
Joined: 12 May, 2005
Posts: 991



Thanked 4 times

Expert In: Hardware, Networking

My Contributions
QUOTE(yanom @ 29 May, 2008 - 04:17 PM) *

QUOTE(perfectly.insane @ 25 May, 2008 - 05:26 PM) *

IANAL, but in order for the GPL to be anywhere near enforceable, one would have to copyright it. The GPL gives others a license to modify and redistribute your work (under the terms of the license), whereas if they don't accept your license, then normal copyright rules apply (but that requires a copyright).


O. Well I wonder if GNU will let me copyright it under the GNU Foundation's name?

No chance.
User is offlineProfile CardPM

Go to the top of the page

Nova Dragoon
post 2 Jun, 2008 - 09:18 AM
Post #6


The Innocent Shall Suffer, Big Time

Group Icon
Joined: 16 Aug, 2001
Posts: 5,966



Thanked 2 times

Dream Kudos: 515

Expert In: Python, Linux

My Contributions
When you make something it is already copyrighted to you.
User is offlineProfile CardPM

Go to the top of the page

bizzehdee
post 12 Jun, 2008 - 04:13 PM
Post #7


New D.I.C Head

Group Icon
Joined: 6 Apr, 2008
Posts: 45



Thanked 2 times

Dream Kudos: 200
My Contributions
also, before you apply the gpl licence to your code, READ the gpl first, its not actualy as free as it claims, infact its quite non-free when you read it properly.

if you want a FREE licence, you should look at the BSD or MIT licence.

but i would always copyright something i was releasing to the public, especialy when the code is being released... unless its something that some people would consider illegal.. then i wouldnt put anything at all to it.
User is offlineProfile CardPM

Go to the top of the page

Tom9729
post 16 Jun, 2008 - 02:31 PM
Post #8


Debian guru

Group Icon
Joined: 30 Dec, 2007
Posts: 1,401



Thanked 7 times

Dream Kudos: 325
My Contributions
@bizzehdee, As long as you have the complete copyright to something, you can change the license as you please IIRC, so one shouldn't worry about applying the GPL to their code (they can just change it for future versions later).

For example, if Linus Torvalds wanted to (and could get EVERYONE who had ever contributed code to the Linux kernel to agree with him, which would never happen) he could switch all future versions from the GPL v2 license to a modified BSD license or something like that.
User is offlineProfile CardPM

Go to the top of the page

Fast ReplyReply to this topicStart new topic
Time is now: 9/6/08 09:23AM
Invision Power Board v2.1.7 © 2008  IPS, Inc.
Licensed to: MediaGroup1

Live Help!

Tutorials

Programming

Web Development

Reference Sheets

Code Snippets

Bye Bye Ads

Free DIC T-Shirt

T-Shirt Example

Related Sites

Monthly Drawing

Thumb Drive

Partners

Top Contributors

Top 10 Kudos This Month