From: Tobias Reif <tobiasreif@...>
Date: 2002-07-01T06:09:50+09:00
Subject: Re: documentation licenses (was: eruby SAFE question)

Dave Thomas wrote:

 > I don't know if there is a way to prevent it, What happened is that
 > someone in Germany translated the book and decided that they now owned
 > the copyright to all the content

This most definitely is highly illegal, from what I know.

 > As the new copyright holder, they then felt free to
 > change the license under which the work was released

This is truly outrageous.

 > The best opinions I have say that this is a breach of
 > copyright. However, I'm also told that had we included option (1) of
 > the OPL we'd have a clearer case.

1. I'm pretty sure you already have a real case.
2. They clearly knowingly sabotaged a system of goodwill and stole
    your works that you gave to the community.

 > Basically, the entire Open Source thing is based on trust. When that
 > trust is breached, the options open to individuals are pretty
 > limited.

I'm not sure, but would the FSF fight for users of the GFDL whose works 
have been stolen? If so, then this would make the GFDL an even better 
choice.

 > I don't know yet what action Addison Wesley will be taking in
 > this case, but I do know that personally there's little that Andy or I
 > could do apart from express disappointment.

My feelings are with you.

I suggest to all to boycott this translation of the PickAxe.

Tobi

-- 
http://www.pinkjuice.com/