[gnu.misc.discuss] A word from the Umpire, please?

scott@moose.cs.washington.edu (Scott Northrop) (10/24/89)

	Perhaps the folks from FSF (or their lawyers) would care to
write up a little document on *exactly* what constitutes a derivative
work, what sources are copylefted (I've heard Nth-hand that libg++
isn't.  Is it?), if the output of a particular program is considered a
derivative work (Bison, gprof, C++ source using libg++ routines, flex,
etc.)  These issues and more have been covered here, but nobody is
speaking *officially*! (at least that I noticed.)  If the signal/noise
ratio here is to rise, a comprehensive and definitive statement must
be made from someone in a position to do so authoritatively.

	The traffic in this group is beginning to resemble theologans
arguing from different holy texts, the origins of which are lost in
the sands of time.  Please, someone provide a clear starting point, so
we can do away with "I read this somewhere" and "wasn't this something
some lawyer said", etc. ad nauseum.

	Pretty please?

Scott Northrop                                scott@fred.cs.washington.edu