The GPL Meets the UCC: Does Free Software Come with a Warranty of No Infringement of Patents and Copyrights?
The GPL Meets the UCC: Does Free Software Come with a Warranty of No Infringement of Patents and Copyrights?
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GPL 与 UCC 的结合：自由软件是否附带不侵犯专利和版权的保证？
DOI：
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发表时间：
2014
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Stephen M. McJohn
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Stephen M. McJohn
GNU 通用公共许可证，即 GPL，是自由软件的基石。 GPL 已成为自由软件的组织文档，提供了有助于改变软件和电子设备开发的结构。根据 GPL 许可的软件可以自由复制和改编。该软件的源代码已公开，任何人都可以研究和更改它。 GPL 确实有“copyleft”限制，旨在让软件免费供其他人使用。如果有人改编并重新分发 GPL 软件，他们也必须允许访问其源代码。 GPL 规定代码“按原样”提供，不提供任何形式的保证。该条款可能不太准确。许可方不保证软件的运行质量。但是，由于《统一商法典》的特性，根据 GPL 销售软件的人可能会在不知不觉中做出不侵权保证，承诺使用该软件不会侵犯任何专利、版权或其他第三方权利。如果买方被第三方起诉，声称侵犯专利或版权，则根据 GPL 销售软件的人可能需要承担损害赔偿责任。本文通过相关法律法规，评估了开发商、嵌入式软件设备销售商和其他许可方面临的风险，并提出了降低风险的实用方法。
The GNU General Public License, known as the GPL, is the cornerstone of free software. The GPL has served as the organizing document for free software, providing a structure that has helped transformed the development of software and electronic devices. Software licensed under the GPL may be freely copied and adapted. The source code for the software is made available, to enable anyone to study and change it. The GPL does have "copyleft" restrictions, intended to keep the software free for others. If someone adapts and redistributes GPL’d software, they must likewise allow access to their source code. The GPL states that the code is provided "'AS IS' WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND." The clause may not be quite accurate. The licensor makes no warranty of quality that the software will work. But, due to idiosyncrasies of the Uniform Commercial Code, someone who sells software under the GPL may – unknowingly – make a warranty of noninfringement, promising that use of the software does not infringe any patents, copyrights or other third party rights. Someone who sells software under the GPL might be liable for damages, if the buyer were sued by a third party claiming patent or copyright infringement. This paper works through the relevant legal code, assesses the risk to developers, sellers of devices with embedded software and other licensors, and suggests practical ways to reduce the risk.