[License-discuss] Contributor Clauses in Licenses

[Pamela Chestek]

On 12/9/2025 9:04 AM, Josh Berkus wrote:
> Pam,
>
>> Assuming the non-software bits are under the open source license, if 
>> I am contributing grammar corrections, naturalizing the documentation 
>> or submitting changes to UI, I am creating a derivative work of those 
>> works.
>
> Ah, ok, now I understand.  Yeah, that's a very good argument.
>
>> You got me on the code contribution based on having accepted a 
>> proprietary license. But how often does that actually happen? The 
>> point remains that inbound = outbound isn't enforceable against them 
>> either.
>
> It does, but if that's the only circumstance one can special-case it.
>

While putting the lights on my tree, the rebuttal to this one dawned on 
me. It would be the rare proprietary license that allows derivative 
works, or even access to the source code. So the fact that the person 
has a license to modify the software comes from the open source license, 
not the proprietary license.

[insert ASCII art of a bowling strike]

Pam

Pamela S. Chestek
Chestek Legal
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