%  FIXME: I think we actually need to research the claim below that

%  ``derivative work'' as a term is unique to USA copyright law.  I have

%  heard German lawyers, for example, use the term extensively.  Is it also a

%  term perhaps under German law?  -- bkuhn

GPLv2 included a defined term, ``work based on the Program'', but also used

the term ``modify'' and ``based on'' throughout the license.  GPLv2's ``work

based on the Program'' definition made use of a legal term of art,

``derivative work'', which is peculiar to USA copyright

law\footnote{(Ironically, most criticism of USA-specific legal

terminology in GPLv2's ``work based on the Program'' definition historically

came not primarily from readers outside the USA, but from those within

  views, and expressed puzzlement by the energy with which they were

  expressed, given the existence of many other, more difficult legal issues

  implicated by the GPL.  Nevertheless, the FSF argued that it made sense to

  eliminate usage of local copyright terminology to good effect.}.  GPLv2

always sought to cover all rights governed by relevant copyright law, in the

USA and elsewhere.

Even though differently-labeled concepts corresponding to the

derivative work are recognized in all copyright law systems, these

counterpart concepts might differ to some degree in scope and breadth from

the USA derivative work.  GPLv3 therefore takes the task of

internationalizing the license further by removing references to derivative

works and by providing a more globally useful definition.