[Lazarus] I ported some components, not sure if I can publish them :-(

[Florian Klaempfl]

Luca Olivetti schrieb:
> Hello,
> 
> I ported the RackCtls components (http://www.picsoft.de/compon.htm 
> basically since I used the 7 segment display one in the past, but the 
> other controls could be useful too) to Lazarus.
> 
> However the license seems a bit contradictory to me, this is what the 
> source says:
> 
> "Diese Komponenten sind Public Domain, das Urheberrecht liegt aber beim 
> Autor."
> 
> google translate says "these components are public domain but the 
> copyright lies with the author".
> 
> I contacted the author (twice) to ask if I could publish my adaptation 
> but he didn't reply.
> I think that I can do whatever I want with "public domain" software but 
> the "the copyright lies with the author" clause confuses me.
> Do you think I should go ahead and publish them or should I keep them to 
> myself?
> 

In Germany, "public domain" does not exist. One *can not* give up the 
copyright. But one can allow unrestricted use.