I’ve noticed that gr-modtool keeps FSF’s copyright assignment for a lot
of boilerplate (CMakeLists.txt, QA code, etc.) but puts a hook for the
end user’s copyright statement in block source files. Is this a pretty
standard way of doing things?
On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 10:29 AM, Sean Nowlan
[email protected] wrote:
I’ve noticed that gr-modtool keeps FSF’s copyright assignment for a lot of
boilerplate (CMakeLists.txt, QA code, etc.) but puts a hook for the end
user’s copyright statement in block source files. Is this a pretty standard
way of doing things?
Yes, pretty much. Of course, this is just my understanding of how
copyright of works is handled, and obviously IAMAL.
Since the code that is made with gr-modtool comes directly from GNU
Radio, it is ‘our’ code, so it’s copyright FSF, not you. Any
modifications or additions you make to the code at that point is now
yours and therefore you can put your own copyright on it. Also, since
it’s made with a GPLv3 tool and copies GPLv3 code, the resulting code
made with this tool is GLPv3, so the license notice in there is also
still appropriate.
Tom
On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 11:04:20AM -0400, Tom R. wrote:
On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 10:29 AM, Sean Nowlan
[email protected] wrote:I’ve noticed that gr-modtool keeps FSF’s copyright assignment for a lot of
boilerplate (CMakeLists.txt, QA code, etc.) but puts a hook for the end
user’s copyright statement in block source files. Is this a pretty standard
way of doing things?Yes, pretty much. Of course, this is just my understanding of how
copyright of works is handled, and obviously IAMAL.
I assume you meant ‘IANAL’. It kind of reads the opposite way 
MB
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On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 11:22 AM, Martin B. (CEL)
[email protected] wrote:
I assume you meant ‘IANAL’. It kind of reads the opposite way
MB
Yeah, typo…
Tom
On 03/12/2013 11:24 AM, Tom R. wrote:
copyright of works is handled, and obviously IAMAL.
Discuss-gnuradio Info Page
With the understanding that I will not take any answers as actual
legal advice, is it generally reasonable to say:
- If I copy a gnuradio block (copyright FSF), tweak a few things, and
redistribute, FSF retains copyright and I have no copyright to the
changes - If I build a block from the ground up, it’s still GPLv3 since it
depends on gnuradio, but I may either maintain copyright or assign it to
FSF
–sean
On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 1:36 PM, Sean Nowlan
[email protected] wrote:
I’ve noticed that gr-modtool keeps FSF’s copyright assignment for a lot of
advice, is it generally reasonable to say:
- If I copy a gnuradio block (copyright FSF), tweak a few things, and
redistribute, FSF retains copyright and I have no copyright to the changes
No, that’s not what I said (or at least meant). The code generated
from gr-modtool is copyrighted by the FSF. If you add any
modifications to the file, that new code will be your copyright. You
would then add a copyright notice into the file to say that this is
copyright you, 2013.
- If I copy a gnuradio block (copyright FSF), tweak a few things, and
redistribute, FSF retains copyright and I have no copyright to the changes
No, that’s not what I said (or at least meant). The code generated
from gr-modtool is copyrighted by the FSF. If you add any
modifications to the file, that new code will be your copyright. You
would then add a copyright notice into the file to say that this is
copyright you, 2013.
Ok, thanks. I didn’t mean to imply that’s what you said; just getting
further clarification.
Basically I’ll retain FSF copyright notice (it would be a violation to
remove it) and add mine.
–sean
On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 4:07 PM, Sean Nowlan
[email protected] wrote:
Basically I’ll retain FSF copyright notice (it would be a violation to
remove it) and add mine.–sean
Exactly. Didn’t want anyone to think that just because they used
gr-modtool that we would be automatically assuming the copyright or
their code. That is definitely not its intended use.
Tom