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If TrueCrypt authors are anonymous, can they even claim that they own that codebase?
by imaginenore 11y ago
If TrueCrypt authors are anonymous, can they even claim that they own that codebase?
- kachnuv_ocasek 11y agoYes, definitely. Anonymity is like pseudonimity, you don't lose any rights only because you choose to put a different name on your work of art.
- jordigh 11y agoSure, Mark Twain was able to ascertain copyright.
- meddlepal 11y agoI don't think so without losing their anonymity. I'm kinda curious though? Any lawyers want to take a stab at answering?
- DannyBee 11y agoIAAL: In the US, Copyright can be registered under a pseudonym, and you do not have to give your real name, ever. On the forms they have, there is a space you can fill out for claimant name, and one for author name. There is also a pseudonym checkbox. They will happily let you register it only in the name of the pseudonym. See: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl101.pdf http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl101.pdf For more interesting fun, read the last sentence of that PDF, where it goes on to explain that you get different years of protection for distributing under a pseudonym vs if your identity is revealed.
- mapt 11y agoIn theory? Sure. In actual legal practice? Probably not if they want to retain anonymity.
- DannyBee 11y agoFalse. See below. Even if they wanted to enforce copyright, they can register as a pseudonym. They can also enforce in court under a pseudonym, as long as they can prove it's the same person with the registration. Which may be tricky.
- SEJeff 11y agoIn the US Legal System, an accuser has to face the defendent. Not sure how they can do that and remain anonymous.