Re: Copyright question

[Patrick Donnelly <batrick@...>]

On Tue, Aug 23, 2011 at 11:06 AM, Stefan Reich
<stefan.reich.maker.of.eye@googlemail.com> wrote:
>> Wrong. 1-clause BSD/ISC is the easiest. Public Domain is a very fuzzy idea.
>
> Huh? Fuzzy? It means: Do what you want, I allow anything. Clearest and
> sharpest statement ever.

Public domain is far more than that. You are actually forfeiting any
of your intellectual property rights. The work no longer "belongs" to
you. (IANAL/Subject to Local Law)

> I just looked up BSD/ISC:
>
> #Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
> #purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
> #copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
> #
> #THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
> #WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
> #MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
> #ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
> #WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
> #ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
> #OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
>
> So BSD/ISC means: It's public domain plus I won't let you screw me for
> any reason. Fair enough, if you feel better having issued a warning
> like that :)

I wonder if releasing something into the public domain also
automatically releases you from any liability associated with its use,
at least in the U.S.A. (prompting the big uppercase paragraph in the
BSD license as well as many others).

-- 
- Patrick Donnelly