On 2015-07-27, at 10:42, Eric S Fraga <e.fr...@ucl.ac.uk> wrote: > On Monday, 27 Jul 2015 at 10:06, Marcin Borkowski wrote: >> Hi all, >> >> I'm preparing a tutorial on writing Org-mode exporters. To this end, >> I'm writing a (simplistic) Oddmuse/WikiCreole exporter. Rather >> obviously, I'm modeling it on existing exporters (mainly ox-latex), >> which seem to share a lot of structure (function names and docstrings in >> particular). I'd like to put my code in public domain. However, >> I reuse parts of GPL'd code (as I mentioned, quite generic ones, but >> still). Is it fine, or should I expect a visit from EFF lawyers or >> something? > > If you reuse GPL code, you have to distribute your code under GPL as > well basically. From the COPYING file in the org distribution:
See how stupid this whole copyright law swamp is? What if I reuse just the basic structure of sentences in the docstrings, like in "Subject + verb + preposition + object"? Do I have to use GPL then, too? ;-) And what if I reuse the naming convention of the functions, but to make life easier, I'll just copy large fragments of code and do a query-replace on them? (This is serious.) > For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether > gratis or for a fee, you must pass on to the recipients the same > freedoms that you received. You must make sure that they, too, > receive or can get the source code. And you must show them these > terms so they know their rights. > > Developers that use the GNU GPL protect your rights with two steps: > (1) assert copyright on the software, and (2) offer you this License > giving you legal permission to copy, distribute and/or modify it. I know that. My question is more like "what does it mean to `reuse' code/text". > Oh, and it's FSF lawyers you should worry about, not EFF! Two different > organisations albeit with some overlap in goals. My bad, of course I meant FSF. > HTH, > eric -- Marcin Borkowski http://octd.wmi.amu.edu.pl/en/Marcin_Borkowski Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science Adam Mickiewicz University
