On Fri, Nov 12, 2004 at 12:11:18PM -0800, Bob McElrath wrote: > 1. Does the above constitute a valid copyright transfer? Given the > above, what is the copyright status of this project? Are the copyrights > still held by individual contributors or are they (in your legal > opinion) actually held by the maintainer?
As for this part of your question: no. Copyright transfer must be made in writing, at least in the US. (IANAL; this is my understanding but not a legal opinion.) http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/17/chapters/2/sections/section_204.html "A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, is not valid unless an instrument of conveyance, or a note or memorandum of the transfer, is in writing and signed by the owner of the rights conveyed or such owner's duly authorized agent." Verbal agreement isn't enough. -- Glenn Maynard
