gEDA-dev: Copyrights in gaf

[Ales Hvezda]

Hi,

>What are the legal requirements for contributing code to gEDA?  I don't
>see any talk about copyright assignments like with GNU projects, but
>just how are things done in gEDA land?  I have some code I hacked up on
>the weekend, and while not good enough for just about anything (it's
>just a proof of concept), I don't want to encumber anyone else doing
>something similar.


	Generally all you have to do is put your code under the GPL.
gEDA/gaf doesn't require copyright assignment, so you will own the
copyright on anything you may write.  The other gEDA programs may have
different policies though.


>
>Will it suffice if I just call the appropriate pointy haired boss at my
>employer and verbally ask for the okay?


	If there is a concern about the employer claiming ownership of
any code you may write, you need to get the release in writing as per
the section at the bottom of the GPL:

...
You should also get your employer (if you work as a programmer) or your
school, if any, to sign a "copyright disclaimer" for the program, if
necessary.  Here is a sample; alter the names:

  Yoyodyne, Inc., hereby disclaims all copyright interest in the program
  `Gnomovision' (which makes passes at compilers) written by James Hacker.

  <signature of Ty Coon>, 1 April 1989
  Ty Coon, President of Vice
...


								-Ales