Re: GFDL (was: Re: [ox-en] [ot:ox-book] Zu Projekt 'ox-book')
- From: Benja Fallenstein <b.fallenstein gmx.de>
- Date: Sat, 01 Feb 2003 22:14:08 +0100
Stefan Meretz wrote:
On Saturday 01 February 2003 20:03, Benja Fallenstein wrote:
I think the GFDL would allow the publisher to add
non-removable texts to the book. Is that correct?
Sure. Everyone may add everything to any Free Stuff. That is the
concept of Free Software.
The point about non-removable text is that you may not remove it-- i.e.
it places a restriction on the ways you may modify software. This is
allowed in some Free Software, but not in strong copylefts like the
GPL-- you could not add code to a program with a "you must not remove
this code in modified versions."
However, if you release the text explicitly with "with no Invariant
Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts" - then nobody
may change this -- or not?
No, they may. From section 4, "Modifications:"
You may add a passage of up to five words as a Front-Cover Text, and a
passage of up to 25 words as a Back-Cover Text, to the end of the list
of Cover Texts in the Modified Version. Only one passage of
Front-Cover Text and one of Back-Cover Text may be added by (or
through arrangements made by) any one entity. If the Document already
includes a cover text for the same cover, previously added by you or
by arrangement made by the same entity you are acting on behalf of,
you may not add another; but you may replace the old one, on explicit
permission from the previous publisher that added the old one.
There is no restriction on this if there wasn't a cover text before. I
haven't checked for invariant sections, but I believe strongly that the
same pattern holds there.
If I understand correctly, the FSF does not consider texts with
invariant sections and/or cover texts non-free-- rather they see them as
legitimate tools for gaining recognition for one's work, and they hope
that front-/back-cover texts will make publishers more willing to fund
and publish Free documentation. They do of course want to give everyone
the ability to merge arbitrary FDLed documents-- that alone necessiates
the ability to add invariant sections and cover texts to an existing
document (the merged document will have both original documents' cover
text and invariant sections).
I do see the logic in it; I'm not impressed by them allowing either
option in the first place, though.
-b.
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