Copyright assignments and the MAINTAINERS file

[Nathanael Nerode]

Richard Kenner wrote:
>     I believe, if I'm not very much mistaken, that secret contracts are
>     generally "against public policy" and there's no way to keep them secret
>     if it matters.
> 
> A sale is a contract.
Yes, and generally can't be kept secret if it matters.

>  Do you believe you have a right to go to IBM
> or Microsoft and ask for a list of their customers?

No, *I* don't, because I have no *interest* in the matter.  But IBM and 
Microsoft have the right to give out their customer lists, and the 
customers have the right to explain that they personally are Microsoft 
or IBM customers -- neither party can prevent the other from making the 
contract public.  That may not be great, but it seems to be the state of 
the current law, generally.  :-/