OpenSolaris Speed VS. Linux. 4202

That's rich; Americans apply their laws to foreigners in other countries all the time, so why shouldn't the reverse apply?

There could very well be a difference between a "work made for hire" and a work created by an individual. The GPL may not be compatible with German law.

And how would these people know? They're not generally lawyers.

And would it matter? The release under the GPL would have been null and void yet it creates a situation where

a) The German authors could prevent further dissementation b) The GPL actually prohibits the use of code authored under German law.

He can license, but not transfer the copyright. Also, article 31(4) of the German copyright act expressly declares null and void any transfers in respect to future unknown uses.

It is a a fallacy to buttume that all copyright law is created equal, especially considering that there are two or three major systems of law in use in the developed world.

Note also that some copyright laws do not mention transfer of copyright and name it as an unalienable right; this is interpreted by some courts such that copyrights cannot be transferred.

Casper -- Expressed in this posting are my opinions. They are in no way related to opinions held by my employer, Sun Microsystems. Statements on Sun products included here are not gospel and may be fiction rather than truth.