xml-dev - Re: A call for open source DTDs

[John Cowan <cowan@locke.ccil.org>]

Michael Kay wrote:
 
> >IBTWSH is in the public domain, though I retain the moral right
> >(not a legal right) to be known as its author.
> 
> Confusing perhaps, but a "moral right", as defined in copyright law, *is* a
> legal right.

True.  But authors do not have any legal "moral rights".  Their
moral moral rights, however, remain intact even if not enforceable
by legal process.
 
> I don't know if the term "public domain" is defined in copyright law.

Only implicitly.  What is not protected by copyright is said to be
in the public domain, though there is no definite process for
dedicating something to the public domain.

In general, nobody is
likely to get into trouble for assuming that something saying
"This document is in the public domain" is in the public domain,
unless they know or reasonably should know (as in the case of
a cracked computer game, e.g.) that it is not.

-- 
John Cowan	http://www.ccil.org/~cowan		cowan@ccil.org
	You tollerday donsk?  N.  You tolkatiff scowegian?  Nn.
	You spigotty anglease?  Nnn.  You phonio saxo?  Nnnn.
		Clear all so!  'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)

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