From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (qmail 17599 invoked by alias); 13 Aug 2010 14:24:42 -0000 Received: (qmail 17589 invoked by uid 22791); 13 Aug 2010 14:24:41 -0000 X-SWARE-Spam-Status: No, hits=-1.2 required=5.0 tests=AWL,BAYES_20 X-Spam-Check-By: sourceware.org Received: from rock.gnat.com (HELO rock.gnat.com) (205.232.38.15) by sourceware.org (qpsmtpd/0.43rc1) with ESMTP; Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:24:33 +0000 Received: from localhost (localhost.localdomain [127.0.0.1]) by filtered-rock.gnat.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id E43A92BAC27; Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:24:31 -0400 (EDT) Received: from rock.gnat.com ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (rock.gnat.com [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with LMTP id sb9aRjcDbvhJ; Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:24:31 -0400 (EDT) Received: from [127.0.0.1] (nile.gnat.com [205.232.38.5]) by rock.gnat.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id B1A562BAC1E; Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:24:31 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <4C65559F.1040105@adacore.com> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:24:00 -0000 From: Robert Dewar User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.24 (Windows/20100228) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: paawan oza CC: gdb@sourceware.org Subject: Re: generic query regarding GPL and licensing terms associated with gdb References: <215382.96867.qm@web112514.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> <4C64D224.1030001@adacore.com> <350785.50982.qm@web112515.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> In-Reply-To: <350785.50982.qm@web112515.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-IsSubscribed: yes Mailing-List: contact gdb-help@sourceware.org; run by ezmlm Precedence: bulk List-Id: List-Subscribe: List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: , Sender: gdb-owner@sourceware.org X-SW-Source: 2010-08/txt/msg00079.txt.bz2 paawan oza wrote: > If I understood correctly, > > -> if the idea is patented by the organization then it may not be discussed. I was answering from the point of gcc, if you discuss a patented idea, we can't use it anyway, so the discussion is useless. Actually patented stuff is open knowledge, so it can be discussed legally, but it is useless to do so, and discussing it without disclosing the existence of the patent could be actively harmful. > > -> if idea is not patented but implemented under GPL (which uses and modifies > original gdb source code), then it can be discussed. Only if your employer permits this discussion > > -> that means organization has no way to claim the idea legally in any terms What gives you that idea? It's completely wrong, it may very well be that the idea is trade secret. If you don't redistribute stuff, you are free to do proprietary secret changes for your own use Please do NOT think that the GPL gives you permission to disclose your employers trade secrets or you can get into real trouble!