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GNU Free Documentation License Released

Posted by timothy on from the free-as-in-free-association dept.

Jonathan Riddell writes "The FSF have quietly released The GNU Free Documentation License 1.2. There's been some controversy about the creation of this license and possible abuse of non-editable sections to make documents non-Free. A diff shows that there's been a fair number of changes. The FDL is in my opinion the most flexible way to keep documentation Free while preventing abuse from publishers."

7 comments

  1. We'll have to see how this develops by Henry+V+.009 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Interesting. The author gets to decide whether certain sections are "Invariant," can't be modified, or not.

    If a translation is done of an Invariant section, the translator either needs the author's permission, or needs to include the original along with it.

  2. problems with a central authority by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    The main problem with Free Software today is that GNU considers itself to be the central authority of the Free Software Movement. Sure, people who don't appreciate the utopian nature of the GNU license can go with BSD or GPU style, but neither of those is really satisfactory in giving back to the community.

    For example, using BSD style licensing, anyone can take your source and close it to sell a proprietary product. And the GPL, with it's virus-like tendencies, really prevents people from using your source in a corporate enviroment.

    So the problem is, GNU needs an elected board to cover the changes in licensing to better reflect the thoughts of the Free Software Community rather than bowing to the whims of Richard Stallman.

    1. Re:problems with a central authority by ichimunki · · Score: 2

      Warning. Link is actually to a pretty nasty scat photo, using a redirect via buy.com.

      --
      I do not have a signature
    2. Re:problems with a central authority by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      I second that. Don't click on it. It's a chick eating her own diahrea in a bathtub.

  3. Invariant sections by evalhalla · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Invariant sections have to be "secondary sections" i.e. not about the main technical subject of the document, so I believe that they can't be used to make a document non-free. Anyway they're not new to this edition of the license.

    I agree that they can lead to problems when translating the document, but such problems can be accepted in exchange for the great flexibility given by invariant sections.

  4. Incongruity. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Here is a disgusting picture of scatology, yet the creator of the image thought it best to pixel out the pussy. What the fuck is up with that?

    Some twisted idea about what is and is not porn??

    1. Re:Incongruity. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Genitals cannot be legally shown in Japan. The anus is a-ok though.