discuss: Re: Free Documentation Definition (revised)
Subject:
Re: Free Documentation Definition (revised)
From:
David Lawyer ####@####.####
Date:
15 Jul 2001 22:21:49 -0000
Message-Id: <20010715135825.A184@lafn.org>
On Thu, Jul 12, 2001 at 02:27:50PM -0700, David Lawyer wrote:
> If we are to segregate our docs into free and non-free sections, we
> need to have some criteria to determine what is free and what is
> non-free. Personally, I don't think we should go ahead with such
> segregation although it would be nice to put the docs into categories
> depending on the license. For example, how many are licensed under the
> old LDP license, how many used GPL or GFDL, etc.
>
> But if we are to go ahead with such segregation then I've written a
> definition as to what I think constitutes free documentation. The
> boundary line between free and non-free is not clearly deliniated. In
> my opinion it is inherently a fuzzy boundary and is subject to the
> interpretation of whoever is sorting out the licenses. I've included
> protecting the rights of the public from abuse.
Here's a slightly revised draft:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FREE DOCUMENTATION DEFINITION
****Draft Version 0.01****
by David S. Lawyer, July 14, 2001
I. GENERAL:
A free copyrighted document (doc) must have a license that gives
anyone the right to freely and responsibly do the following: copy,
distribute, display, and modify the doc (including derived works),
provided that these rights are not abused to the detriment of the
public. Here are the ways which these rights given by the license may
(or must) be restricted so as to protect the public (and to a lesser
degree, the author):
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. REQUIREMENTS:
1. Distribution: The following must be freely available to the public
(and such availability must be easy to find out about):
a. a transparent (defined later) copy
b. a transparent source document (such as in SGML, XML, HTML) if
it exists
2. Derived work: The license for such a work must be restricted
to a license (or a choice of licenses) which meet the requirements
of this "Free Documentation Definition"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
III. OPTIONAL allowed restrictions:
1. Copying: All (or some) copying may be required to be transparent.
2. Displaying and Derived works: Advertising may be restricted,
including the display of the doc with advertising. Extraneous
materials may be restricted (like advertising). Such extraneous
materials includes religious and political statements. But
statements supporting free software and/or documentation (within
reason) are permitted.
3. Distribution: Clear labeling may be required if:
a. The doc is an out-of-date version, or
b. The doc is being sold and many potential purchasers are not aware that
the doc is also available free of charge.
4. Derived works: If this represents a significant improvement, it may
be required that a good faith effort be made to put the derived work
on the Internet for free distribution.
Derived works may be prohibited unless there is a good reason to do so
for public benefit. Such good reasons include:
a. The doc is not being adequately maintained
b. The license has been changed to a non-free one
c. Software changes call for immediate modification of the doc
An attempt to timely contact the author(s) about any significantly
modified derived work may be required.
It may be required to keep (without altering) certain non-modifiable
sections relating to non-technical topics provided they are only a
small percentage of the document. There should be an expiration time
for such sections so that they may be removed when they become stale.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
IV. OTHER RESTRICTIONS:
Other than the restrictions mentioned above, no other restrictions are
allowed. The license may not contain a termination clause.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
V. DEFINITION:
A "Transparent" copy is an electronic copy of a document which is in a
format commonly used in the free software community and may be both
viewed and converted to other formats using free software. Plain text
is also "transparent". Technical means (such as encryption) may not
be used for the purpose of restricting its viewing, copying, or
modification.
