[cc-community] upgrading from GFDL 1.2?

Chris Watkins chriswaterguy at appropedia.org
Sat Jul 25 00:45:56 EDT 2009


I got this note, below, from someone who manages a wiki. They use GFDL 1.2
(footer: "Content is available under GNU Free Documentation License
1.2<http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html>.")
and I've been encouraging them to change to CC-BY-SA 3.0 (or a dual license
like Wikipedia).

He believes that their GFDL 1.2 license (note it does not say "or later")
cannot be upgraded to 1.3 without the permission of all the authors. From
his note below, he seems to be right. Are they stuck with GFDL 1.2?

If so, I think I'd recommend that they make a major effort to get
permissions, change the license for all new contributions, and remove all
old content where permission hasn't been given. (The only bit that's urgent
is to change the license for all new contributions.)

Thanks,
Chris

Quote GFDL 1.2:
> Each version of the License is given a distinguishing version number.
> If the Document specifies that a particular numbered version of this
> License "or any later version" applies to it, you have the option of
> following the terms and conditions either of that specified version or
> of any later version that has been published (not as a draft) by the
> Free Software Foundation. If the Document does not specify a version
> number of this License, you may choose any version ever published (not
> as a draft) by the Free Software Foundation.
>
> You can choose other versions of the license if the Document specifies
> that a particular numbered version of this License "or any later
> version".
> However, we only specifeid GFDL 1.2 in our wiki, not "1.2 or later
> version". So, application of GFDL 1.3 is not a legal option.
>
> Hence migration to CC-by-SA is impossible.
>

-- 
Chris Watkins

Appropedia.org - Sharing knowledge to build rich, sustainable lives.

identi.ca/appropedia / twitter.com/appropedia
blogs.appropedia.org

I like this: five.sentenc.es
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