Re^11: Why non-core CPAN modules can't be used in large corporate environments.

Devel::Trace does not seem to actually have a copyright attribution or license file attached to it at all. How can you honor the authors wishes if said author does not express them?

Well, that's very easy. In fact, that question is even easier than if there would be license file attached. The basics of copyright law is very easy. Unless specified otherwise, every original work is copyrighted, making it illegal for anyone else to copy the work in parts or whole. (Yeah, yeah, there are exceptions like 'fair use', don't bother stating that). The keys point is the "not specified otherwise". The only requirement needed to have the copyright on a work is to create it. The old (US) requirement that it needed a copyright notice was dropped somewhere in the early 80s or late 70s.

So, unless a work clearly states otherwise, you do not have the right to copy the work.

Perl --((8:>*

Comment on Re^11: Why non-core CPAN modules can't be used in large corporate environments.

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Re^12: Why non-core CPAN modules can't be used in large corporate environments. by tirwhan (Abbot) on Dec 07, 2005 at 13:56 UTC
To pick another minor nit (while I'm at it :-) The only requirement needed to have the copyright on a work is to create it. You need to create and record it. An idea you have created in your head is not copyrighted, nor I think is an idea you have described verbally to another person (unless you tape that conversation). Recording the creative work on a medium gives you the copyright on the recording (painting/soundclip/program). This is important, because confusion often arises on whether you can copyright the idea of your creation. You can't, you can only copyright the manifestation of that idea. The OpenBSD project uses this fact creatively by using their copyright on the CD image of their official release and disallowing free redistribution of said image. Thus, while you're free to install, use and change OpenBSD in almost any way, you cannot get an official CD image without buying it from them. Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it. -- Brian W. Kernighan	[reply]

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Re^12: Why non-core CPAN modules can't be used in large corporate environments.
by tirwhan (Abbot) on Dec 07, 2005 at 13:56 UTC

To pick another minor nit (while I'm at it :-)

The only requirement needed to have the copyright on a work is to create it.

You need to create and record it. An idea you have created in your head is not copyrighted, nor I think is an idea you have described verbally to another person (unless you tape that conversation). Recording the creative work on a medium gives you the copyright on the recording (painting/soundclip/program). This is important, because confusion often arises on whether you can copyright the idea of your creation. You can't, you can only copyright the manifestation of that idea.

The OpenBSD project uses this fact creatively by using their copyright on the CD image of their official release and disallowing free redistribution of said image. Thus, while you're free to install, use and change OpenBSD in almost any way, you cannot get an official CD image without buying it from them.

Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it. -- Brian W. Kernighan

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