[tz] temporary timezone database home ...

[David Braverman]

Um...a statement in a creative work that says "this work is in the public domain" generally *does* put it in the public domain. Anyone who owns property is free to give it away.

In the case of the U.S. government, since the government (in theory) is owned by the citizens of the U.S., as a matter of public policy U.S. government works are in the public domain. 17 USC 105 states this explicitly, but does allows the U.S. government to hold copyrights by devise (for example, through a gift or a tax lien). I believe ADO had to clarify that the tzinfo database fell into the first category and not the second; thus, the "public domain" language in the tzinfo files.

And IAAL (just not practicing). :)

David Braverman
http://www.wx-now.com/