2 months and no response from Eben Moglen - Yes you can rescind your grant.

From: visionsofalice
Date: Sun Dec 23 2018 - 11:05:15 EST


It has been 2 months. Eben Moglen has published no research.

Because there is nothing more to say: The GPLv2, as used by linux, is a bare license. It can be rescinded at the will of the grantor.

The regime that the FSF used, vis-a-vis the GPLv2, is essential: copyright transfers to a central repository entity that is sure not to rescind.

Linus chose not to adopt this regime.
He benefited by greatly increased developer contribution.
The price for that windfall was and is the retention of their traditional property rights by the property holders.

They can rescind at will.
They made no promise nor utterance to the contrary that can be relied upon.
They were paid no consideration.
There was no meeting of the minds.

Additionally the CoC regime itself is a license terms violation, being an additional restrictive term, as explained in the other analysis. (Similar to the GRSecurity license violation)

On 2018-10-26 18:31, Eben Moglen wrote:
On Friday, 26 October 2018, visionsofalice@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:

You are conflating case law dealing with commercial software and
non-gratuitous licenses with the present situation, which would likely
be a case of first-impression in nearly any jurisdiction.

I think the best procedure would be for me to publish my analysis and
for you then to tell me what is wrong with it. What you say here
sounds like what a lawyer might say, but isn't. I have been teaching
this stuff for about thirty years, so if I am conflating or confusing
anything I will be grateful for help in seeing my mistake.

The rule for gratuitous licenses is that they are revocable at the will
of the grantor.

That's not actually "the rule." It sounds like it might be the rule,
but it so happens that it's not. When I have given the explanation as
I have learned, taught and depended on it, you will be able to show me
what I am wrong about.

Raymond Nimmer (God rest his soul) was in agreement on this point,
vis-a-vis the GPL and similar licenses.

You have your Nimmers confused. The primary author of the treatise
Nimmer on Copyright (a book about the law, not in itself an authority)
was Melville Nimmer. The treatise is continued by his son, David, a
fine lawyer with whom I do from time to time politely disagree about
something. Ray Nimmer is quite another person.

Eben