Limits of Licenses
John Cowan
jcowan at reutershealth.com
Mon Mar 27 15:16:05 UTC 2000
Justin Wells wrote:
> Can a copyright license demand that I stop using a work that I have acquired
> lawfully if I later violate the license and infringe on the copyright? Can
> it demand that I destroy my copy?
>
> Many licenses include langaue insisting that you must cease all use of
> the software and/or destroy your copies of it if you violate the license
> terms. I'm wondering if you can do that in a copyright license.
Hmm, I doubt it.
> What reason is there to believe that free software licenses are valid at
> all? If they really are contracts of adhesion, isn't that going to get
> them struck down right there? I thought there was some precedent for
> throwing out a contract, even if it's reasonable, just on the grounds
> that it was a contract of adhesion--and if you have even one objectionable
> term, then you get into hot water.
Contracts of adhesion are interpreted strictly against the party drafting
them; he cannot be heard to say "I didn't mean what I said". But they are
neither void nor voidable as such, and a good thing too, or we'd none of
us have to pay our rents or credit-card agreements. :-)
> I'm not a lawyer so this is a sincere question--I don't know the answer
> and I don't know if what I'm saying makes any legal sense.
IANAL.
--
Schlingt dreifach einen Kreis um dies! || John Cowan <jcowan at reutershealth.com>
Schliesst euer Aug vor heiliger Schau, || http://www.reutershealth.com
Denn er genoss vom Honig-Tau, || http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
Und trank die Milch vom Paradies. -- Coleridge (tr. Politzer)
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