[nzlug] "Consumer" report on linux

[Matthew Poole]

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Eliot Blennerhassett wrote:
|
| Is there such a thing as DBoC (Distributed Breach of Copyright)
| when each of a number of people quote a "fair use" portion of the
| document, with the aggregate being the whole document?
|
Ah, but what is 'a "fair use" portion'? It's not defined in statute, and
case law says that what's "fair dealing" is a contextual, factual
decision in every case.
A bunch of people who all agreed to quote small sections with the
intention of quoting the entire work would likely fall foul of the law
because they'd be sued as a group.

Don't forget that copyright is what gives the GPL its legitimacy. In the
absence of copyright law, the GPL would just be a bunch of words that
may or may not have contractual significance depending on what the judge
had for breakfast that morning. Trying to find ways around legitimate
exercises of copyright weakens the community's position in support of
enforcing the GPL.

- --
Matthew Poole
"Don't use force. Get a bigger hammer."
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