Copyright grants publishers power to forbid users to exercise rights to copy, modify, and distribute that we believe all users should have the GPL thus relaxes almost all the restrictions of the copyright system. > The GPL, on the other hand, subtracts from copyright rather than adding to it. Copyright law doesn't prohibit decompilation, the prohibition is just a contract term you agree to as a condition of getting the software when you buy the product under shrink wrap in a store, or accept a “clickwrap license” on line. Software you're not allowed to understand, for example, often requires you to agree not to decompile it. These companies say their software is “licensed” to consumers, but the license contains obligations that copyright law knows nothing about. > But most proprietary software companies want more power than copyright alone gives them. IANAL, but I'm fairly sure banning 'stuff like the GPL' would mean banning every EULA and software license, as that's really all the GPL is.Įben Moglen (Free Software Foundation) sums up the differences: You may not claim any sponsorship by, endorsement by, or affiliation with me.

You will not use this Software to engage in any activity that will violate the rights of third parties, including, without limitation, through the use, public display, public performance, reproduction, distribution, or modification of communications or materials that infringe copyrights, trademarks, publicity rights, privacy rights, other proprietary rights, or rights against defamation of third parties. You will not sell this Software or charge others for use of it (either for profit or merely to recover your media and distribution costs) whether as a stand-alone product, or as part of a compilation or anthology, without explicit prior written permission. You will not engage in using this Software that will interfere with or damage the operation of the services of any third parties by overburdening/disabling network resources through automated queries, excessive usage or similar conduct.* You will not use this Software to engage in or allow others to engage in any illegal activity.^ You will not, and will not permit others to:ġ) reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, derive the source code of, modify, or create derivative works from this Software, orĢ) copy, distribute, publicly display, or publicly perform content contained in this Software other than as expressly authorized by this Agreement.

You represent and warrant that you will not violate any of the requirements of this Agreement and further represent and warrant that: It now reads:īy using this Software or storing this program or parts of it on a computer hard drive (or other media), you are agreeing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Either quotes have been deliberately taken out of context, or the author has updated the license.

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