Re: bug#19479: Disclaimer is now on file at FSF

[Stephen J. Turnbull]

Vibhav Pant writes:

 > This is the form to request documents for assigning past and future
 > works, which according to you isn't possible.

The point is that copyright assignment is a *contract* involving "good
and valuable consideration" from the recipient of the assignment.  On
the other hand, a *disclaimer* is a one-sided act by the copyright
holder, and legally has a different character.

I am not familiar with the legislation and case law, so I can't say
whether the law actually treats assignment and disclaimer differently
in this respect.  But I assure you that theoretically it could, since
assignment is governed by contract law, while disclaimer is purely a
matter of copyright.