Open Source Content License (OSCL) - Other/Miscellaneous licenses

Rick Moen rick at linuxmafia.com
Fri Apr 18 22:32:28 UTC 2008


Quoting Andrew Wilson (andrew.wilson at intel.com):

> Even FSF, to my knowledge, never uses GPL for any of their
> documentation.

Quoting http://www.gnu.org/doc/doc.html :
   "Originally, all our documentation was released under a short
   Copyleft license, or under the GNU General Public License (GPL)
   itself."

> Using GPL, or any other SW license, for text strikes me
> as not a good idea.  

On what grounds, exactly?  The applicability of, e.g., new-BSD or GPL to
documentation is straightforward:  The "preferred form" is the editable
format for purposes of modifications, etc.  Compatibility with
accompanying software works for purposes of possible future creation of
derivatives becomes less of a problem, and the licence can be a familiar
one with known effects.  More analysis can be read here:

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/nonsoftware-copyleft.html
("Applying Copyleft to Non-Software Information", by Michael Stutz)

-- 
Cheers,           "I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate
Rick Moen         those who do.  And, for the people who like country music,
rick at linuxmafia.com         denigrate means 'put down'."      -- Bob Newhart



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