Hi,
Sorry this may be an FAQ, but I couldn't find any answers to this: I'm wondering if we are allowed to claim copyright to translations (and .po files) of any strings in Drupal and its core / contrib modules. I noticed many .po files come with a copyright notice at the top of the files, but since Drupal is licensed under GPL, my understanding is that .po files are derivatives and thus they cannot be copyrighted.
I couldn't find a specific answer for Drupal translation files, but did find some sources that my argument is correct (at least in the States) so I'm assuming that is the case:
www.linuxjournal.com/article/6366 "A “derivative work” is a work based upon one or more pre-existing works, such as a translation . . . A work consisting of editorial revisions, annotations, elaborations or other modifications which, as a whole, represent an original work of authorship, is a “derivative work”."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License "The GPL is clear in requiring that all derivative works of code under the GPL must themselves be under the GPL."
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Kind regards,
Mori
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Mori Sugimoto schrieb:
Hi,
Sorry this may be an FAQ, but I couldn't find any answers to this: I'm wondering if we are allowed to claim copyright to translations (and .po files) of any strings in Drupal and its core / contrib modules. I noticed many .po files come with a copyright notice at the top of the files, but since Drupal is licensed under GPL, my understanding is that .po files are derivatives and thus they cannot be copyrighted.
Even GPLed code is copyrighted. :)
I couldn't find a specific answer for Drupal translation files, but did find some sources that my argument is correct (at least in the States) so I'm assuming that is the case:
www.linuxjournal.com/article/6366 "A derivative work is a work based upon one or more pre-existing works, such as a translation . . . A work consisting of editorial revisions, annotations, elaborations or other modifications which, as a whole, represent an original work of authorship, is a derivative work ."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License "The GPL is clear in requiring that all derivative works of code under the GPL must themselves be under the GPL."
Larry should reply to this, I think, but he isn't on this list.
I've put him in CC.
Cheers, Gerhard
Gerhard Killesreiter wrote:
Mori Sugimoto schrieb:
Hi,
Sorry this may be an FAQ, but I couldn't find any answers to this: I'm wondering if we are allowed to claim copyright to translations (and .po files) of any strings in Drupal and its core / contrib modules. I noticed many .po files come with a copyright notice at the top of the files, but since Drupal is licensed under GPL, my understanding is that .po files are derivatives and thus they cannot be copyrighted.
Even GPLed code is copyrighted. :)
Yes, as it is declared in the COPYRIGHT.txt: "All Drupal code is Copyright 2001 - 2008 by the original authors." This means unless the translator is also the copyright holder (i.e. the person who wrote the code), they cannot claim copyright for the translation. Am I correct?
I couldn't find a specific answer for Drupal translation files, but did find some sources that my argument is correct (at least in the States) so I'm assuming that is the case:
www.linuxjournal.com/article/6366 "A derivative work is a work based upon one or more pre-existing works, such as a translation . . . A work consisting of editorial revisions, annotations, elaborations or other modifications which, as a whole, represent an original work of authorship, is a derivative
work ."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License "The GPL is clear in requiring that all derivative works of code under the GPL must themselves be under the GPL."
Larry should reply to this, I think, but he isn't on this list.
Larry, your advise will be highly appreciated :)
Cheers,
Mori
I've put him in CC.
Cheers, Gerhard
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Mori Sugimoto schrieb:
Gerhard Killesreiter wrote:
Mori Sugimoto schrieb:
Hi, Sorry this may be an FAQ, but I couldn't find any answers to this: I'm wondering if we are allowed to claim copyright to translations (and .po files) of any strings in Drupal and its core / contrib modules. I noticed many .po files come with a copyright notice at the top of the files, but since Drupal is licensed under GPL, my understanding is that .po files are derivatives and thus they cannot be copyrighted.
Even GPLed code is copyrighted. :)
Yes, as it is declared in the COPYRIGHT.txt: "All Drupal code is Copyright 2001 - 2008 by the original authors." This means unless the translator is also the copyright holder (i.e. the person who wrote the code), they cannot claim copyright for the translation. Am I correct?
No, I don't think you are. Regardless of the GPL a translation (if it is more than just technical) certainly can be copyrighted. If a PO-file translation of short strings like in Drupal is copyrightable at all can be debated. The threshold of origiinality might not be crossed.
Cheers, Gerhard
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Gerhard Killesreiter -
Mori Sugimoto