[computer-go] Licenses are uselless

[Dave Denholm]

"Chrilly" <c.donninger at wavenet.at> writes:

> The problem with contracts or licenses of any kind is that it is
> practically impossible to enforce them especially in a foreign
> country. The story is different if you are IBM or Microsoft with a big
> stuff of lawyers. But even the big players usually do not go to court,
> they just use their patents and rights in playing patent-poker with
> other competitors.

[example snipped]

> So I am really asking myself about the importance if any involved
> licencse policy. If you want to keep your secrets for yourself, do not
> publish the code. If you want that others are using it, keep it on a
> place for download. But do not complain that it is used by others for
> any purpose they like. Once the code is out, there is no real way to
> protect it.
>


I think there are two sides to the coin. Your position is that
despite your best efforts, the bad guys will steal the code
anyway. But the flip side is that if you *want* people to take and
extend the software, you need a license so that the honest folk won't
be afraid to do so.

ie a license that tries to reduce a user's rights may not be
enforcable, but you still need a license to grant people additional
rights.

dd
-- 
Dave Denholm              <ddenholm at esmertec.com>       http://www.esmertec.com