diff --git a/comprehensive-gpl-guide.tex b/comprehensive-gpl-guide.tex index ddf6174c8974771e1487a770eef6618ce456beb2..4a3f08a7bca826ee5993244ca66df41eeda0cf14 100644 --- a/comprehensive-gpl-guide.tex +++ b/comprehensive-gpl-guide.tex @@ -101,7 +101,8 @@ and Guide {\parindent 0in \begin{tabbing} Copyright \= \copyright{} 2003--2005, 2008, 2014 \hspace{1.mm} \= \kill -Copyright \> \copyright{} 2003--2005, 2008, 2014 \> Bradley M. Kuhn. \\ +Copyright \> \copyright{} 2003--2005, 2008, 2014--2015 \> Bradley M. Kuhn. \\ +Copyright \= \copyright{} 2015 \> Richard E. Fontana. \\ Copyright \> \copyright{} 2014 \> Anthony K. Sebro, Jr. \\ Copyright \= \copyright{} 2014 \> Denver Gingerich. \\ Copyright \= \copyright{} 2003--2007, 2014 \> Free Software Foundation, Inc. \\ diff --git a/gpl-lgpl.tex b/gpl-lgpl.tex index ab1476813f1c056ff889db966dc3ca7b6949aee1..291998ef638919e808f8293224e8a8d3860c1194 100644 --- a/gpl-lgpl.tex +++ b/gpl-lgpl.tex @@ -3836,14 +3836,26 @@ GPLv3~\S11\P3 makes this clear by defining ``patent license,'' for purposes of the subsequent three paragraphs, as ``any express agreement or commitment, however denominated, not to enforce a patent (such as an express permission to practice a patent or covenant not to -sue for patent infringement)'' - -The definition does not include patent licenses that arise by -implication or operation of law, because the third through fifth paragraphs -of section 11 are specifically concerned with explicit promises that purport -to be legally enforceable. The final paragraph of section 11 explicitly +sue for patent infringement)''. + +``Express'', as used GPLv3~\S11\P3, is a term often used in legal writing as +an antonym to ``implied''. Thus, GPLv3's definition of ``patent license'' +does not include those patent licenses which arise by +implication or operation of law\footnote{FIXME: explain this}. +Instead, GPLv3~\S11\P3--5 are specifically concerned with explicit promises +that are purportedly legally enforceable. + +Nevertheless, unlike traditional commercial patent licensing +agreements\footnote{FIXME: note such a clause is rare, if not unique.}, +rather than confining the patent license grant to some narrow set of such +express situations, GPLv3 preserves the +\hyperref[gpl-implied-patent-grant]{existing implied patent licensing structure} +found in GPLv2. Specifically, the final paragraph of GPLv3~\S11 explicitly preserves the availability of patent licenses arising by implication or -operation of law. +operation of law. GPLv3~\S11's final paragraph dissuades potential +misinterpretation disparity between GPLv2 and GPLv3 --- namely, that some +might argue an explicit patent license would otherwise cause any implied +patent license to evaporate. GPLv3~\S11\P5 is commonly called GPLv3's downstream shielding provision. It responds particularly to the problem of exclusive deals between patent