[orra]

> that there does not exist (can not exist?) a license that you could use if you want to release your code to the public domain

In what jurisdiction? Yes, it's widely thought it's not possible e.g. in Germany, because you cannot seem to waive your moral rights.

What about the U.S.? There's no explicit law saying you can dedicate your copyright to the Public Domain. True, so some think it's not possible. But others think you can simply abandon copyright, like you can any other personal property. Why wouldn't that be the case?

FWIW, I like the clarity of a permissive MIT or ISC license. But I think you may be able to dual license Public Domain (in many jurisdictions) OR MIT.

[jraph]

> you cannot seem to waive your moral rights.

If it's like France, moral rights cannot be given up and stay in perpetuity, even when the work reaches public domain.

That's patrimonial rights that expire after 70 years, making the work reach public domain. These are the ones you would want to give up to put something in the public domain but can't.

[orra]

Perpetuity? Interesting. So, if the moral rights don't end when you die, then I suppose your heirs and successors can nominally enforce moral rights, centuries later. Wow!

[jraph]

> I suppose your heirs and successors can nominally enforce moral rights, centuries later

I don't know about this. That's quite possible. But yes! See [1,2]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_rights [2] https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droit_moral