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Re: Why not contribute? (to GCC)
> > Now let's suppose some company claims my patches violate their copyright.
> > What happens? In the GCC case, they can't come to me since I no longer own
> > that code. They sue the FSF, who defends the case. If they lose (because
> > I DID, in fact, violate somebody's copyright), the FSF now has a claim
> > against me for what they owe plus legal fees. But if they WIN (because I
> > DIDN'T violate the copyright), I haven't had any responsibility beyond
> > possibly being a witness.
>
> Isn't it far more likely that you would be co-defendant because your
> posting to gcc-patches was a copyright violation in itself?
Perhaps, but the point is that since the FSF is involved, THEY would be the
ones primarily responsible for the defense, whereas if I had not assigned
the copyright, everything would rest completely on my shoulders.