GFDL (was: EU Copyright..)

[Alessandro Rubini]

Simo:
>> If in a document I say: "I think Free Software is a good thing!" and I
>> licence the document under GPL, you are entitle to change (without even
>> notify me) it to be: "I think Free Software is a BAD thing!".
>> 
>> Now do you think this is fair? What is the meaning of permitting other
>> people to change MY toughts?

Mark:
> Quoting:
>     a) You must cause the modified files to carry prominent notices
>     stating that you changed the files and the date of any change.
>
> Rather, it is clearly marked as a combination of your thoughts and theirs. 
> In that, even the above edit is accurately described.

True. Still, there is a great difference. A program usually has little
"philosophy" in it, it's mostly practical work. If a derived program
doesn't work properly people just doesn't use it and will most likely
be able to retrieve the original program by the original author.
There is little damage to the original author if the modified program
doesn't work.

On the other hand, one can read a modified document and not understand
that it "doesn't work". Such a document can be printed on paper, so
the reader can't readily get to the original document. And even if
there is "prominent notice" of every file that has been changed, it's
rarely read.

So I agree with Simo that the GPL isn't really suited to
more-than-trivial documentation works, and invariant sections are an
important feature. This even though I agree with Mark that the
"prominent notice" part of the GPL is a very important issue, even
though it's too often forgotten.

I also think that "verbatim copying is permitted" is the best license
for non-documentation writings.


[PS: I know perfectly that my own use of the FDL hasn't been completely
 consistent with these ideas. I know my errors: raising them here
 won't lead to anything. If anyone wants more details please write me
 offlist]

/alessandro