On Wed, Jul 12, 2000 at 10:13:56PM -0500, David Starner wrote: > On Thu, Jul 13, 2000 at 03:48:56AM +0200, Tomasz Wegrzanowski wrote: > > GPL requires people to whom you redistribute a file > > to be able to modify and redistribute it. > > But they can't modify .gifs they got, because of > > patent problems. > > GPL says. that if, due to patent problems, you > > can't meet all licence's critaria, you can't distribute > > GPLed file at all. > > They can modify and redistribute it. They can load it up > in Photoshop, they can load it up in hexedit, they can load > it up in a program that uses libungif, or they can edit it > outside the United States. All entirely legal ways to edit > the gif.
I will quote GPL again. [...] To prevent this, we have made it clear that any patent must be licensed for everyone's free use or not licensed at all. [...] 2. You may modify your copy or copies of the Program or any portion of it [...] 6. Each time you redistribute the Program (or any work based on the Program), the recipient automatically receives a license from the original licensor to copy, distribute or modify the Program subject to these terms and conditions. [...] If you cannot distribute so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this License and any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you may not distribute the Program at all. [...] This plainly states that if recipient can't modify .gif in every way he/she want, you can't distribute GPLed file to him/her.
