[ILUG] Header files and GPL

[Karl O'Dwyer]

On Fri, Jan 16, 2009 at 15:57, Niall Walsh <niallwalsh at users.berlios.de> wrote:
> Quoting Karl O'Dwyer <me at karlodwyer.net>:
>
>> A tricky one, if the manufacturer does not expressly state the
>> licensing and offers them freely on the Internet then they may be
>> considered to be in the public domain.
>
> Everything which can be copyrighted is by default protected by copyright and
> not public domain.  The copyright owner must actively put something into the
> public domain or else you will have to wait for the copyright to expire (if
> it ever will).
>
> It "may" be in the public domain but it is highly unlikely and certainly a
> very bad idea to presume it is.
>
> Niall
>
> p.s. usual disclaimers like IANAL and YMMV depending upon what countries
> laws apply in any specific case
>
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Copyright law varies greatly from country to country.
And fair and educational use may not exist as legal right in the codes
country of origin.
Without a degree in Law, it may just be quicker to rewrite the header files...

*Note the use of the term 'may'.

But contacting the people who supply the code is always a good idea.

- Karl

-- 
Karl O'Dwyer
"Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum"
http://www.minds.nuim.ie/~purple_hamster