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www/philosophy nonsoftware-copyleft.html
|
From: |
Yavor Doganov |
|
Subject: |
www/philosophy nonsoftware-copyleft.html |
|
Date: |
Thu, 31 May 2007 10:55:48 +0000 |
CVSROOT: /web/www
Module name: www
Changes by: Yavor Doganov <yavor> 07/05/31 10:55:48
Modified files:
philosophy : nonsoftware-copyleft.html
Log message:
Templated; removed some dead links.
CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/philosophy/nonsoftware-copyleft.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.4&r2=1.5
Patches:
Index: nonsoftware-copyleft.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /web/www/www/philosophy/nonsoftware-copyleft.html,v
retrieving revision 1.4
retrieving revision 1.5
diff -u -b -r1.4 -r1.5
--- nonsoftware-copyleft.html 8 May 2007 23:45:23 -0000 1.4
+++ nonsoftware-copyleft.html 31 May 2007 10:55:29 -0000 1.5
@@ -1,192 +1,145 @@
-<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
-<HTML>
-<HEAD>
-<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
-<TITLE>Applying Copyleft To Non-Software Information - GNU Project - Free
Software Foundation (FSF)</TITLE>
-<LINK REV="made" HREF="mailto:address@hidden";>
-</HEAD>
-<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#1F00FF" ALINK="#FF0000"
VLINK="#9900DD">
-<H3>Applying Copyleft To Non-Software Information</H3>
-
-<H4>by <A HREF="http://dsl.org/m/";>Michael Stutz</A></H4>
-
-<P>
-
-[
- <A HREF="/philosophy/nonsoftware-copyleft.ca.html">Catalan</a>
-| <A HREF="/philosophy/nonsoftware-copyleft.html">English</A>
-| <A HREF="/philosophy/nonsoftware-copyleft.fr.html">French</A>
-]
-
-<P>
-<HR>
-
-<P>
-
-<H4>Table of Contents</H4>
-<UL>
- <LI><A HREF="#what"
- NAME="TOCwhat"><STRONG>First, what is Copyleft?</STRONG></A>
- <LI><A HREF="#why"
- NAME="TOCwhy"><STRONG>Why is Copyleft important, or even
necessary?</STRONG></A>
- <LI><A HREF="#gpl"
- NAME="TOCgpl"><STRONG>So why isn't the FSF's GNU GPL good
enough?</STRONG></A>
- <LI><A HREF="#how"
- NAME="TOChow"><STRONG>Ok, so how do I copyleft my non-software
work?</STRONG></A>
- <LI><A HREF="#where"
- NAME="TOCwhere"><STRONG>Where do I go from here?</STRONG></A>
-</UL>
-
-
-<P>
-
-<HR>
-
-<P>
-
-<H4><A HREF="#TOCwhat" NAME="what">First, what is Copyleft?</A></H4>
-
-The entry for "<A HREF="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</A>" in the
+<!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
+<title>Applying Copyleft To Non-Software Information - GNU Project - Free
Software Foundation (FSF)</title>
+<!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
+<h2>Applying Copyleft To Non-Software Information</h2>
+
+<p>by <a href="http://dsl.org/";><strong>Michael Stutz</strong></a></p>
+
+<h3 id="what">First, what is Copyleft?</h3>
+
+<p>
+The entry for
+“<a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>” in the
definitive hacker lexicon, the
+<a href="http://www.jargon.net/jargonfile/c/copyleft.html";>Jargon
+File</a>, reads:</p>
-<A HREF="http://www.jargon.net/jargonfile/c/copyleft.html";>Jargon File</A>,
reads:
-
-<BLOCKQUOTE>
+<blockquote><p>
copyleft: /kop'ee-left/ [play on `copyright'] n. 1. The
copyright notice (`General Public License') carried by GNU
EMACS and other Free Software Foundation software, granting reuse
and reproduction rights to all comers (but see also General
Public Virus). 2. By extension, any copyright notice intended to
achieve similar aims.
-</BLOCKQUOTE>
-
-<P> The idea of <A HREF="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</A>
-originated with über-hacker
+</p></blockquote>
-<A HREF="http://www.stallman.org/";>Richard Stallman</A> in 1983 when he
-started the <A HREF="/gnu/gnu-history.html">GNU Project</A>. In brief,
-his goal was "to develop a complete free Unix-like operating system."
-As part of that goal, he invented and wrote the <A
-HREF="/copyleft/gpl.html">GNU General Public License</A>, a legal
-construct that included a copyright notice but added to it (or,
+<p>The idea of <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
+originated with über-hacker <a href="http://www.stallman.org/";>Richard
+Stallman</a> in 1983 when he started
+the <a href="/gnu/gnu-history.html">GNU Project</a>. In brief, his
+goal was “to develop a complete free Unix-like operating
+system.” As part of that goal, he invented and wrote
+the <a href="/copyleft/gpl.html">GNU General Public License</a>, a
+legal construct that included a copyright notice but added to it (or,
technically, removed certain restrictions), so its terms allowed for
the freedoms of reuse, modification and reproduction of a work or its
-derivatives to be kept for all.
+derivatives to be kept for all.</p>
-<P>
-Normal <A
-HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/planet/carroll/";>copyright</A>
-asserts ownership and identification of the author, as well as
-prevents the use of the author's name as author of a distorted version
-of the work; it also prevents intentional distortion of the work by
-others and prevents destruction of the work. But it also carries other
-restrictions -- such as restricting the reproduction or modification of
-a work.
-
-<P>
-Copyleft contains the normal copyright statement, asserting
-ownership and identification of the author. However, it then <EM>gives
-away</EM> some of the other rights implicit in the normal copyright: it
-says that not only are you free to redistribute this work, but you are
-also free to change the work. However, you cannot claim to have
-written the original work, nor can you claim that these changes were
-created by someone else. Finally, all derivative works must also be
-placed under these terms.
-
-
-<P>
-
-<H4><A HREF="#TOCwhy" NAME="why">Why is Copyleft important, or even
necessary?</A></H4>
-
-<P>
-Certain restrictions of copyright -- such as distribution and
-modification -- are not very useful to ``cyberia,'' the <A
-HREF="http://dsl.org/cgi-bin/display.pl/m/doc/ana/96/cyberspace-declaration";>free,
apolitical, democratic community</A>
-that constitutes the internetworked digital world.
-
-<P>
-With computers, perfect copies of a digital work can easily be made --
-and even modified, or further distributed -- by others, with no loss
-of the original work. As individuals interact in cyberia, sharing
-information -- then reacting and building upon it -- is not only
-natural, but this is the <EM>only</EM> way for individual beings to
-thrive in a community. In essence, the idea of copyleft is basic to
-the natural propagation of digital information among humans in a
-society. This is why the regular notion of copyright does not make
-sense in the context of cyberia.
-
-<P>
-Simple `public domain' publication will not work, because some will
-try to abuse this for profit by depriving others of freedom; as long as
-we live in a world with a legal system where legal abstractions such
-as copyright are necessary, as responsible artists or scientists we
-will need the formal legal abstractions of copyleft that ensure our
-freedom and the freedom of others.
+<p>
+Normal <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/planet/carroll/";>
+copyright</a> asserts ownership and identification of the author, as
+well as prevents the use of the author's name as author of a distorted
+version of the work; it also prevents intentional distortion of the
+work by others and prevents destruction of the work. But it also
+carries other restrictions — such as restricting the
+reproduction or modification of a work.</p>
+
+<p>
+Copyleft contains the normal copyright statement, asserting ownership
+and identification of the author. However, it then <em>gives away</em>
+some of the other rights implicit in the normal copyright: it says
+that not only are you free to redistribute this work, but you are also
+free to change the work. However, you cannot claim to have written the
+original work, nor can you claim that these changes were created by
+someone else. Finally, all derivative works must also be placed under
+these terms.</p>
+
+<h3 id="why">Why is Copyleft important, or even necessary?</h3>
+
+<p>
+Certain restrictions of copyright — such as distribution and
+modification — are not very useful to “cyberia,” the
+“free, apolitical, democratic community” that constitutes
+the internetworked digital world.</p>
+
+<p>
+With computers, perfect copies of a digital work can easily be made
+— and even modified, or further distributed — by others,
+with no loss of the original work. As individuals interact in cyberia,
+sharing information — then reacting and building upon it —
+is not only natural, but this is the <em>only</em> way for individual
+beings to thrive in a community. In essence, the idea of copyleft is
+basic to the natural propagation of digital information among humans
+in a society. This is why the regular notion of copyright does not
+make sense in the context of cyberia.</p>
+
+<p>
+Simple ‘public domain’ publication will not work, because
+some will try to abuse this for profit by depriving others of freedom;
+as long as we live in a world with a legal system where legal
+abstractions such as copyright are necessary, as responsible artists
+or scientists we will need the formal legal abstractions of copyleft
+that ensure our freedom and the freedom of others.</p>
-<P>
+<p>
Much literature has been written on this subject by Stallman, and the
-details can be found in the excellent <A
-HREF="/philosophy/philosophy.html">texts</A> published by the Free
-Software Foundation.
-
+details can be found in the
+excellent <a href="/philosophy/philosophy.html">texts</a> published
+by the Free Software Foundation.</p>
+
+<h3 id="gpl">So why isn't the FSF's GNU GPL good enough?</h3>
+
+<p>
+It <em>is</em> good enough! The GNU GPL is not only a document of
+significant historical and literary value, but it is in wide use today
+for countless software programs — those as formal part of the
+GNU Project and otherwise. The GNU GPL originated for the specific
+goal of sharing software among computer programmers. However, looking
+closely at the GPL, it appears that the same License can be easily
+applied to non-software information.</p>
-<P>
-
-<H4><A HREF="#TOCgpl" NAME="gpl">So why isn't the FSF's GNU GPL good
enough?</A></H4>
-
-<P>
-It <EM>is</EM> good enough! The GNU GPL is not only a document of significant
-historical and literary value, but it is in wide use today for
-countless software programs -- those as formal part of the GNU Project
-and otherwise. The GNU GPL originated for the specific goal of sharing
-software among computer programmers. However, looking closely at the
-GPL, it appears that the same License can be easily applied to
-non-software information.
-
-<P>Alternately, a document can be copylefted under different, or much
+<p>Alternately, a document can be copylefted under different, or much
simpler terms; whether or not the GNU GPL is the specific means to the
end is not the issue, although the GNU GPL certainly provides the most
-explicit (and canonical) definition of copyleft.
-
+explicit (and canonical) definition of copyleft.</p>
-<P>
+<h3 id="how">Ok, so how do I copyleft my non-software work?</h3>
-<H4><A HREF="#TOChow" NAME="how">Ok, so how do I copyleft my non-software
work?</A></H4>
-
-<P>
+<p>
It's simple. While a particular situation may require or inspire its
own specific License, possibly similar to the GNU GPL, all that a
copyleft notice must really do is fulfill the points as defined above
-in "<A HREF="#what">First, what is Copyleft?</A>". Using the GNU GPL
-to copyleft your work is easy.
+in “<a href="#what">First, what is Copyleft?</a>”. Using
+the GNU GPL to copyleft your work is easy.</p>
-<P>
-The GNU GPL states that it "applies to any program or other work which
-contains a notice placed by the copyright holder saying it may be
-distributed under the terms of this General Public License," so this
-"Program," then, may not necessarily be a computer software program --
-any work of any nature that can be copyrighted can be copylefted with
-the GNU GPL.
-
-<P>
-The GNU GPL references the "source code" of a work; this "source code"
-will mean different things for different kinds of information, but the
-definition of "source code" -- provided in the GNU GPL -- holds true
-in any case: "The source code for a work means the preferred form of
-the work for making modifications to it."
-
-<P>
-The notices attached to the work can not always be attached "to the
-start of each source file," as recommended by the GNU GPL. In this
-case, the directory that the files reside should contain a notice, as
-should any accompanying documentation or literature.
-
-<P>
-Finally, for non-software works the "copyright" line included at the
-start of the "source code" of the work is modified in language
-slightly:
+<p>
+The GNU GPL states that it “applies to any program or other work
+which contains a notice placed by the copyright holder saying it may
+be distributed under the terms of this General Public License,”
+so this “Program,” then, may not necessarily be a computer
+software program — any work of any nature that can be
+copyrighted can be copylefted with the GNU GPL.</p>
+
+<p>
+The GNU GPL references the “source code” of a work; this
+“source code” will mean different things for different
+kinds of information, but the definition of “source code”
+— provided in the GNU GPL — holds true in any case:
+“The source code for a work means the preferred form of the work
+for making modifications to it.”</p>
+
+<p>
+The notices attached to the work can not always be attached “to
+the start of each source file,” as recommended by the GNU
+GPL. In this case, the directory that the files reside should contain
+a notice, as should any accompanying documentation or literature.</p>
+
+<p>
+Finally, for non-software works the “copyright” line
+included at the start of the “source code” of the work is
+modified in language slightly:</p>
-<PRE>
+<pre>
<one line to give the work's name and a brief idea of what it does.>
Copyright (C) 19yy <name of author>
@@ -203,61 +156,90 @@
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software
Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
-</PRE>
-
-<P>
+</pre>
-<H4><A HREF="#TOCwhere" NAME="where">Where do I go from here?</A></H4>
+<h3 id="where">Where do I go from here?</h3>
-<P>Here are sources for further information on copyleft, especially as it is
applied to non-software information:
+<p>Here are sources for further information on copyleft, especially as
+it is applied to non-software information:</p>
-<P>The <A HREF="/home.html">rest of this web site</A> is the home of
+<p>The <a href="/home.html">rest of this web site</a> is the home of
the GNU Project and is the canonical source for copyleft and
-freely-redistributable software.
-
-<P><A HREF="http://www.ram.org/";>Ram Samudrala</A> wrote the
+freely-redistributable software.</p>
-<A HREF="http://www.ram.org/ramblings/philosophy/fmp.html";>Free Music
Philosophy</A> and creates copylefted music as the band
-
-<A HREF="http://www.twisted-helices.com/th/";>Twisted Helices</A>.
-
-<P>Some of my own non-software copylefted works include texts (
-
-<A HREF="http://dsl.org/map/";>literature</A>,
-
-<A HREF="http://dsl.org/copyleft/";>reviews</A>,
-
-and <A HREF="http://dsl.org/comp/";>technical</A>)
-
-and <A HREF="http://dsl.org/musc/";>music</A>.
-
-<HR>
-
-<P>Copyright 1997 Michael Stutz
-
-<P>
+<p><a href="http://www.ram.org/";>Ram Samudrala</a> wrote
+the <a href="http://www.ram.org/ramblings/philosophy/fmp.html";>Free
+Music Philosophy</a> and creates copylefted music as the
+band <a href="http://www.twisted-helices.com/th/";>Twisted
+Helices</a>.</p>
+
+<p>Some of my own non-software copylefted works include texts
+(literature, reviews, <a href="http://dsl.org/comp/";>technical</a>)
+and music.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
+<div id="footer">
+
+<p>
+Please send FSF & GNU inquiries to
+<a href="mailto:address@hidden";><em>address@hidden</em></a>.
+There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
+the FSF.
+<br />
+Please send broken links and other corrections or suggestions to
+<a href="mailto:address@hidden";><em>address@hidden</em></a>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Please see the
+<a href="/server/standards/README.translations">Translations
+README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting
+translations of this article.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Copyright © 1997 Michael Stutz
+<br />
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is
permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.
+</p>
-<HR>
-
-<H4><A HREF="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</A></H4>
-
-<HR>
-
-Return to <A HREF="/home.html">GNU's home page</A>.
-<P>
-
-Please send FSF & GNU inquiries & questions to
-
-<A HREF="mailto:address@hidden";><EM>address@hidden</EM></A>.
-There are also <A HREF="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to
-contact</A> the FSF.
-<P>
+<p>
Updated:
-<!-- hhmts start -->
- 5 Oct 2000 taz
-<!-- hhmts end -->
-<HR>
-</BODY>
-</HTML>
+<!-- timestamp start -->
+$Date: 2007/05/31 10:55:29 $
+<!-- timestamp end -->
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<div id="translations">
+<h4>Translations of this page</h4>
+
+<!-- Please keep this list alphabetical. -->
+<!-- Comment what the language is for each type, i.e. de is German. -->
+<!-- Write the language name in its own language (Deutsch) in the text. -->
+<!-- If you add a new language here, please -->
+<!-- advise address@hidden and add it to -->
+<!-- - /home/www/bin/nightly-vars either TAGSLANG or WEBLANG -->
+<!-- - /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->
+<!-- - one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->
+<!-- - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->
+<!-- to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->
+<!-- Please also check you have the 2 letter language code right, cf. -->
+<!-- <URL:http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/IG/ert/iso639.htm> -->
+<!-- Please use W3C normative character entities. -->
+
+<ul class="translations-list">
+<!-- Catalan -->
+<li><a
href="/philosophy/nonsoftware-copyleft.ca.html">Català</a> [ca]</li>
+<!-- English -->
+<li><a href="/philosophy/nonsoftware-copyleft.html">English</a> [en]</li>
+<!-- French -->
+<li><a
href="/philosophy/nonsoftware-copyleft.fr.html">Français</a> [fr]</li>
+</ul>
+</div>
+</div>
+</body>
+</html>