[AktiviX-discuss] Re: GPL for the AktiviX wiki?

[MJ Ray]

On 2004-07-19 11:40:44 +0100 Chris <chris at aktivix.org> wrote:

> My question is -- is the GPL suitable for a site where
> most of the content is not software?

I think you mean "not programs" rather than "not software". Clearly, 
the AktiviX wiki content is not hardware, firmware or wetware!

At the moment, some debian developers (including me) recommend using 
the GPL (but think that you should state clearly which form is "the 
preferred form for modification" or "Source" if it's at all 
questionable) if you want a copyleft or the MIT/X11-style licence if 
you don't want a copyleft. Many debian publications, including the 
Developers Reference, are released under the GPL 
http://www.uk.debian.org/doc/developers-reference/

The FDL has few fundamental problems, mostly relating to tethering 
free software (the main document) to non-free software (the secondary 
sections), but there are a few odd wording problems which I hope will 
be ironed out in the next version. 
http://people.debian.org/~srivasta/Position_Statement.html

The CC licences have a common problem in requiring you to delete all 
appearances of the name of an author if they request it. In most 
cases, that's not going to be a bug problem, but the potential is 
there for some icky messes. Also, there's a practical problem with 
most authors including the CC trademark terms as part of licences, 
because of a presentational error that CC seem unwilling to fix. If 
included, the trademark terms are an obvious problem.

So, you have those two licences, neither of which are free software 
licences, while there are free software licences which can cover 
writing.

My question is -- are the FDL and CC licences suitable for a site 
where most of the content is about free software?

-- 
MJR/slef    My Opinion Only and not of any group I know
http://www.ttllp.co.uk/ for creative copyleft computing
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