Re: gens License Check - Non-free (original) (raw)

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On Tue, 15 Jun 2004, Brian Thomas Sniffen wrote:

Being derivative is a property of a work, not a property of its distribution. And it is that property of the combined work to which the FSF objects

No, it isn't.

The FSF doesn't prohibit derivatives (of GPL works and proprietary works together). Rather, the FSF prohibits distributing derivatives. In other words, the reason that distribution matters is not because being a derivative is somehow dependent on being distributed--rather, the reason that it matters is that distribution is separately and explicitly mentioned.

And "being a derivative" is a property of a work. "Being a derivative which has been distributed" is not really a property of the work alone, but rather a property of the work plus its history. A series of instructions which result in the same work but with a different history might change things.

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