[development] Modules that integrate non-GPL PHP apps violatethe GPL.

[ttw+drupal at cobbled.net]

On 03.09-18:53, FGM wrote:
> > [ ... ]
> > what still confuses me, however, is that i recall a law suit with one
> > of the larger software companies about 10 years ago where they sued
> > a smaller company for reverse engineering their code to write compatible
> > software.  the case was lost (as i recall) on the basis that once you
> > had purchased something you were entitled to use it to access your
> > data (which you still had ownership over) in whatever manner you chose
> > (including reverse engineering and interfacing with those components
> > to better access your information).  [...]
> 
> One thing you need to keep in mind is the explicit allowance of reverse
> engineering by law within the EU member states, transposing an EU directive,
> which AFAIK does not an equivalent in the USA, where reverse engineering can
> land you in deep trouble.
> 
> The case you mention could fall under this legal situation.

i believe you are correct here but the bigger question is what is
right and what is wrong.  i believe that trying to use copyright to
prevent someone doing anything except copying your code is not only
legally untenable (at least within the EU) but wrong.  using the notion
of freedom to impose freedom may be an appealing notion but what is
the value of imposed freedom?  rings of certain, current, foreign
policies.