[Bf-committers] copyright and suzanne

[Tom Musgrove]

Martin,

[QUOTE]Why limit it to Suzanne? What about the images using
simple cubes, planes, the default material, a default
texture, ... ?[/QUOTE]

Because they aren't unique enough expression to be subject to copyright.

[QUOTE]Moreover, this would fall under this clause (from the GPL 
FAQ)[/QUOTE]

I'm familiar with that clause of the GPL.  However, your interpretation is 
mistaken.  If your interpretation of it were correct, then a GPL script that 
automatically runs gcc and compiles blender would remove GPL protection from 
blender, since it would be 'output' of a gpled program.  Or alternatively, a 
script that took a gpl licensed image than ran the gimp to do some minor 
image processing would result in the image not being GPLed.

This appears to be a common confusion.  What that clause means is that usage 
of a GPL program does not add any additional restrictions based upon using 
the program (ie if you were to import an obj file from another program, then 
by usage of blender to create the render would not gpl the render).  
However, it cannot make any claims as to what the resultant license is on 
content that a GPLed program acts upon.  By copyright law, a derived work is 
a derived work.  While suzanne is in some respects an 'output' she is also 
content in and of itself.  Similarly while the Blender Logo, and blender 
startup screen are 'outputs' of the Blender program, this does not mean that 
endusers can make any usage of them that they desire.

Just as it would be necessary to give specific license grants to use the 
blender startup screen or logo, it is also necessary to make a specific 
license grant for suzanne.

Of course if for some bizarre reason Ton/rhe Blender Foundation were to sue 
for copyright infringement for usage of suzanne, a defense attorney would 
likely argue some sort of implied right of usage.

However, just because it is unlikely that a suit for copyright infringment 
would be brought for usage of suzanne, does not mean that legally speaking a 
specific license grant needs to be made for usage of her.

LetterRip