[OSM-legal-talk] Houses of cards

[Charles Basenga Kiyanda]

Frederik Ramm wrote:
> Hi,
>
>   
>> I'm a bit confused. Isn't that situation, in US jurisdiction, a  
>> problem
>> with any copyleft license that would be adopted? I can do this with  
>> gpl
>> software, too. I can download the linux kernel, take away the license
>> notices and then sell it to someone to use in a proprietary product.
>>     
>
> No, because coypright applies to the Linux kernel, and the US law  
> does recognize that very well. The problem arises only with stuff  
> that is not copyrightable, such as factual data, onto which you try  
> to add restrictions.
>
>   

But then the point still stands that, in the US, any copyleft license 
would have the same result. Someone could take the data, strip the 
licensing notice and distribute it as his own?

Charles

> Bye
> Frederik
>
>