Hi, I've just received the following answer regarding my question from this thread (https://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2013/04/msg00009.html) from the FSFE legal team. The answer is positive and seems pretty clear, but of course, as astute lawyer cats, they point out that it is not legal advice :-)
Pierre [email protected] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Hugo Roy <[email protected]> Date: 2013/4/23 Subject: Re: Fwd: Is it ok to contribute Google-Translator Kit generated translations to Debian ? To: Pierre Slamich <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected] Hello Pierre, I hope you do not mind me replying in English. I suppose our answer will be more useful to you when you get back to debian over this issue ;-) >From the legal perspective, your issue boils down to whether the generated output using the Google Translator Kit would be restricted by Google. The potential restrictions are twofold: - if Google is vested by copyright in their intervention (basically providing automated translation), - if Google restricts your use of the generated output contractually, i.e. in their terms of service. On copyright, it is quite clear to us that the output generated via Google Translator Kit is not restricted by Google's copyright. The translation is an adaptation, but it is automated. Under some legal theories, something automatically produced *could be* copyright of those who establish the systems that produce the content, but there must be some degree of creativity in the process itself rather than brute application of grammar and linguistic rules. Application of grammar and linguistic rules is not aimed at creating anything new. (The software, in its own standing is probably original enough, but it does not mean its output is original). So you can safely assume the translation is *not* derivative of the language used by Google, nor are they a database. This is more so if there is human intervention. Now, only the terms of service could stand in the way. But as you can see from the Google Translator Kit website, the terms are Google's general terms which state: Using our Services does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in our Services or the content you access. You may not use content from our Services unless you obtain permission from its owner or are otherwise permitted by law. It seems very clear that “the content you access” include translations output from Google Translator Kit. You are permitted by law to use that, as it is outside of Google's copyright range (and as a translation of translations from free software, you certainly have permission from the free software developers). This is not legal advice, but I hope it helps! Best regards Hugo -- Hugo Roy, Free Software Foundation Europe FSFE Legal Team + Deputy Coordinator, www.fsfe.org/legal FSFE French Team + Coordinator, www.fsfe.org/fr Support Free Software, sign up! https://fsfe.org/support
