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Copyright of posted material

by McA (Priest)
on Aug 09, 2013 at 09:13 UTC ( [id://1048715]=monkdiscuss: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??

Hi Monks,

when I post more than just a little snippet, but e.g. a full working function or module, how is the copyright of this material? Is it automatically a Perl like license? Or something different? Do I own the copyright?

I couldn't find nodes explaining this.

Best regards
McA

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Copyright of posted material
by tobyink (Canon) on Aug 09, 2013 at 09:33 UTC

    In Berne Convention countries, anything you publish is automatically under your own copyright, unless you've agreed to terms to the contrary. (And publication on the Internet does count as publication.)

    For example, when working under a contract, this often assigns the code you write during work hours to your employer. Your country's laws may even make that assumption by default, in the absence of specific copyright clauses in your contract.

    PerlMonks, unusually for site of its nature does not have a terms of service document that users need to agree to. Such documents usually include language to the effect that users retain copyright on their contributions, but by posting material, they automatically give the website permission to publish them.

    So, unless I've missed something subtle, yes, you own the copyright on code you publish on PerlMonks. (Unless your employer does!)

    For a year or so, I've had a note on my home node clarifying the copyright and license for code I publish here.

    The usual IANAL disclaimers apply.

    package Cow { use Moo; has name => (is => 'lazy', default => sub { 'Mooington' }) } say Cow->new->name

      Hi tobyink, hi corion,

      Thank you for the fast replies.

      Ditto, except I put it in my sig.

      Code written by xdg and posted on PerlMonks is public domain. It is provided as is with no warranties, express or implied, of any kind. Posted code may not have been tested. Use of posted code is at your own risk.
Re: Copyright of posted material
by Corion (Patriarch) on Aug 09, 2013 at 09:39 UTC

    As far as I understand copyright is automatic, at least under the Berne Convention. There is no automatic license, so for anything "large" or "worthy" enough to fall under the Berne Convention, you'll need to get an explicit license from the author, if you involve a legal counselor. If you don't involve a legal counselor, I assume that code posted, for example, in reply to a question would be licensed implicitly for reuse, or even be in the public domain as far as such a construct exists in your jurisdiction.

Re: Copyright of posted material
by sundialsvc4 (Abbot) on Aug 09, 2013 at 16:01 UTC

    “Always protect your own ass.”   If you, and no one else but you, wrote the material ... and you were not working for anyone else at the time ... then All Is Well.   But if not, Exercise Due Diligence.™   Find anyone-and-everyone who might possibly object, tell them everything, ask permission,™ and document in writing that you did so.   It’s just called, “common sense.”   If someone happens to notice and subsequently decides to raise a stink, you’re all set to assert the Innocent Infringement defense.   (And pray.)

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