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Rewrite contractor's provision.

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Bradley M. Kuhn 2014-03-20 08:46:34 -04:00
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37
gpl-lgpl.tex
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@ -2548,28 +2548,23 @@ permitted without limitation and activities that trigger additional
requirements. Specifically, GPLv3~\S2\P2 guarantees the basic freedoms of requirements. Specifically, GPLv3~\S2\P2 guarantees the basic freedoms of
privately modifying and running the program. privately modifying and running the program.
% FIXME: transition, and some word smith Also, GPLv3~\S2\P2 gives an explicit permission for a client to provide a
copy of its modified software to a contractor exclusively for that contractor
to modify it further, or run it, on behalf of the client. However, the
client can \texit{only} exercise this control over its own copyrighted
changes to the GPL-covered program. The parts of the program it obtained
from other contributors must be provided to the contractor with the usual GPL
freedoms. Thus, GPLv3 permits users to convey covered works to contractors
operating exclusively on the users' behalf, under the users' direction and
control, and to require the contractors to keep the users' copyrighted
changes confidential, but \texit{only if} the contractor is limited to acting
on the users' behalf (just as the users' employees would have to act).
GPLv3 now gives an explicit permission for a client to provide a copy of The strict conditions in this ``contractors provision'' are needed so that it
its modified software to a contractor exclusively for that contractor to cannot be twisted to fit other activities, such as making a program available
modify it further, or run it, on behalf of the client. However, the to downstream users or customers. By making the limits on this provision
client can only exercise this control over its own copyrighted changes very narrow, GPLv3 ensures that, in all other cases, contractors gets the
to the GPL-covered program. The parts of the program it obtained from full freedoms of the GPL that they deserve.
other contributors must be provided to the contractor with the usual GPL
freedoms.
This permission is stated in section 2. It permits a user to convey
covered works to contractors operating exclusively on the user's behalf,
under the user's direction and control, and to require the contractors
to keep the user's copyrighted changes confidential, but only if the
contractor is limited to acting on the user's behalf, just as the user's
employees would have to act.
The strict conditions in this provision are needed so that it cannot be
twisted to fit other activities, such as making a program available to
users or customers. By making the limits on this provision very narrow,
we ensure that in all other cases the contractor gets the full freedoms
of the GPL.
% FIXME: transition, and some word smith % FIXME: transition, and some word smith