[legal] Comments on copyright license in the proposed IPR policy

[Mark Wahl]

Gabe Wachob wrote:

> 	If others share Simon's concerns, please say so here. 

Mr. Josefsson wrote:

 >>The copyright license says:
>>
>>    "Copyright License. Some Contributions are not subject to
>>    copyright. However, to the extent a Contribution is or may be subject
>>    to copyright, the Contributor hereby agrees to grant a perpetual,
>>    non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide copyright license to OpenID,
>>    to other Contributors, and to Implementers, to reproduce, prepare
>>    derivative works from, distribute, perform and display the
>>    Contribution and derivative works thereof solely for the development
>>    and implementation of OpenID Specifications."
>>
>> This do not grant a copyright license to third parties.  Is that the
>> intention?

A third party that is not an "Implementer"?  Would not a free software
developer that implements OpenID specifications be an Implementer?
Implementors are granted the rights in the copyright license above.

A party who it appears would not be granted a right by this license
would be, for example, someone who wishes to publish the
"Big Book of OpenID Specifications" but who is not a contributor or an
implementor.

Mark Wahl
Informed Control Inc.