Re: Dybvig's syntax-case --- (ice-9 syncase) --- removed

[Chris.Bitmead@misys.com.au]

>> Can someone explain the policy here. Is the problem that this was not
GPL,
>> or is the problem that the copyright
>> owner did not assign ownership to the FSF?
>>
>> If the latter, why is that a problem? As long as everything is GPL, I
can't >  see why >>it matters who owns it.
>
>
>Mostly legal butt covering ;) In probably 99% of the cases, it isn't
strictly necessary, >but if you think about it a bit, you can probably
imagine a whole bunch of problems, >lawsuits, etc (better to be too
>paranoid, than too sued >:). It also makes sure that you actually can
>gpl the code (mostly important if you work as a programmer).

That's one side of the coin, but the other side of the coin is illustrated
by something Linus Torvalds said. He said he is glad he doesn't own the
copyright to the whole of
Linux because it binds his own hands. If one day he loses his mind and
decides to make
Linux commercial with a restrictive copyright, he can't, because he'd have
to get
permission of hundreds of authors.

Also, when the copyright is owned all over the internet, it gives lawyers a
 very
difficult target to aim their suit at.