Re: [PATCH] import multiboot1 specification in grub trunk

[Isaac Dupree]

Vladimir 'phcoder' Serbinenko wrote:
> On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 8:38 PM, Isaac
> Dupree<address@hidden> wrote:
> > Vladimir 'phcoder' Serbinenko wrote:
> > > > 8) COPYING contains GPLv2. fdl.texi isn't imported.
> > > I'm not a lawyer but following is my analysis
> > > AFAICT only example kernel is under GPL (v2 to be precise) the rest is
> > > either custom license, unclaimed copyright or non-copyrightable.
> > > IMO multiboot specification should be FDL with cover text "Multiboot
> > > specification"
> > It's better IIRC not to have any cover texts or invariant sections if we
> > have a choice.
> I've checked and it revealed that I had false idea about cover texts.
> ACtually the requirement I wanted to impose is that modified copies
> can't have the title "Multiboot Specification". Sorry for using
> incorrect idea.

quite right; we certainly don't want to *require* that modified texts 
call themselves Multiboot Specification!  Instead we'd like them not to 
be called that.  I'm not sure if copyright law is the right way to do 
that; sometimes trademarks are; however here we have

FDL 1.3 requirement for modified versions:
"A. Use in the Title Page (and on the covers, if any) a title distinct 
from that of the Document, and from those of previous versions (which 
should, if there were any, be listed in the History section of the 
Document). You may use the same title as a previous version if the 
original publisher of that version gives permission. "

GPLv3:
"The work must carry prominent notices stating that you modified it, and 
giving a relevant date."
and allows certain additional restrictions, especially
"c) Prohibiting misrepresentation of the origin of that material, or 
requiring that modified versions of such material be marked in 
reasonable ways as different from the original version; or"
"e) Declining to grant rights under trademark law for use of some trade 
names, trademarks, or service marks; or"
...which are used in Micropolis, based on SimCity code released as GPLv3 
by EA who owns the SimCity trademark and guards it jealously 
<http://code.google.com/p/micropolis/wiki/License>

I think the FDL version 1.3 requirement above is quite sufficient for 
this document.

-Isaac