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The term "derivative work" (or similar) is sometimes defined in law, but of course very abstractly (i.e. not specific to software) and differently depending on
by JW_00000 3y ago
The term "derivative work" (or similar) is sometimes defined in law, but of course very abstractly (i.e. not specific to software) and differently depending on jurisdiction. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work) IMO it's exactly because of this ambiguity that many developers' understanding of the term is likely to be incorrect, and that most of us don't really understand what our license choice entails.
- pc86 3y agoI think a better way to say this is that every developer's understanding is absolutely incorrect in some jurisdictions. Maybe they're correct in their jurisdiction, but once you start talking about this online, as with every discussion of legalities on HN, people start talking past each other forgetting that many European countries will disagree with each other, and especially forgetting that the US may have several dozen wildly different interpretations.