Discussion draft of new GNU Free Documentation License released
Alfred M. Szmidt
ams at gnu.org
Tue Sep 26 18:22:20 UTC 2006
The following just poped up at http://www.fsf.org, I haven't had a
chance to read the draft yet though.
Discussion draft of new GNU Free Documentation License released
BOSTON, September 26, 2006--The Free Software Foundation (FSF)
today released the first discussion draft for version 2 of the GNU
Free Documentation License (GFDL). In addition to being the
official documentation license of the GNU Project, the GFDL is used
by many other free documentation projects, including Wikipedia.
Accompanying this revision release of the GFDL is a new companion
license, called the GNU Simpler Free Documentation License (GSFDL).
This release marks the beginning of a public discussion and review
process, with the goal being the production of the best free
documentation licenses possible. The FSF has invited everyone to
read the new drafts and contribute comments at
http://gplv3.fsf.org/doclic-dd1-guide.html.
The new license texts have wording intended to improve
internationalization, to allow for easier excerpting and
distribution, and to be more clear about their application to media
formats other than text.
Documentation licenses exist because free manuals are essential for
free software. But the GFDL and GSFDL are not limited to software
documentation. While the FSF recommends these licenses "principally
for works whose purpose is instruction or reference," they state
clearly in Section 0 of each license that each can be used for "any
work of authorship meant for human appreciation, rather than
machine execution."
The GFDL 1.1 was released in 2000. It was revised and released in
2002 as version 1.2.
Media contact:
Brett Smith
Compliance Engineer
Free Software Foundation
617-542-5942
brett at fsf.org
About the FSF
The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to
promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and
redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development
and use of free (as in freedom) software--particularly the GNU
operating system and its GNU/Linux variants--and free documentation
for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the
ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of
software. Their Web site, located at www.fsf.org, is an important
source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support their
work can be made at http://donate.fsf.org. Their headquarters are
in Boston, MA, USA
Created by johns
Last modified 2006-09-26 02:08 PM
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