[Koha-devel] Koha Documentation Structure

[MJ Ray]

On 2004-10-03 22:45:49 +0100 Stephen Hedges <shedges at skemotah.com> 
wrote:

> I have attached a file called "koha_docs_structure" which contains an
> outline for all of the Koha documentation. [...]

Thanks for this.

> I will be retrieving existing documents, such as Nicholas Rosasco's 
> "Koha
> Manual," converting them to XML, and fitting them into this structure.

What XML? XML is more a meta-language rather than a particular markup. 
xhtml is XML these days, even.

> If you would like to submit a document, please include the following
> statement in the document:

Any reason for writing our own? I would prefer the following simpler 
statement:

If you would like to submit a document, please include the following 
statement. Replace the copyright line placeholders with your details. 
You may remove the part in square brackets if you wish.

(BEGIN STATEMENT)
Copyright 2004 <name> <email> <postal>

This document is licensed to you under the GNU General Public License 
version 2 or later <URL:http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html> [and the 
Linux Documentation Project License version 2.0 or later 
<URL:http://www.tldp.org/COPYRIGHT.html>]. It is distributed in the 
hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even 
the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR 
PURPOSE.
(END STATEMENT)

Here's my worries about your statement:

>     "This document is copyrighted (c) 2004 by <your name here>.  
> Unless
> otherwise stated, Koha documents are copyrighted by their respective
> authors.

I'm not entirely sure that "to copyright" is a verb. If I remember 
correctly, copyright is a property of a creative expression which 
exists automatically in Berne Union states and does not require a 
distinct action to create it.

>      Koha-related documents may be reproduced and distributed in 
> whole or
> in part, in any medium physical or electronic, as long as this
> copyright notice is retained on all copies.

This part looks fine, as far as it goes.

>      You may create a derivative work and distribute it provided that 
> you:
> 1. Send your derivative work to the Koha Project for possible posting 
> on
> the Internet.

Notification requirement, restricting free modification and 
distribution. Might even restrict internal use by an institution as 
"distribute" is not clearly defined (AKA lawyerbomb). Usually, debian 
developers will say this is not acceptable for free software.

> 2. License the derivative work with this same license, or the Linux
> Documentation Project License (http://www.tldp.org/manifesto.html), 
> or the
> GNU General Public License (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html). 
> Include
> a copyright notice and at least a pointer to the license used.

The URL for the LDPL is wrong, pointing to the manifesto. It should be 
http://www.tldp.org/COPYRIGHT.html I think.

We should specify which licence versions are acceptable. The first 
LDPL didn't make the covered work free software, IIRC.

> 3. Give due credit to previous authors and major contributors.

A bit vague, but probably OK.

>      Commercial redistribution is allowed and encouraged; however, the
> author would like to be notified of any such distributions.  Please
> check your local laws on copyright."

Just a notice and request: again OK. The reference to "your local 
laws" suggests that I'm right to be worried about "distribute" as I 
don't know all laws around the world.

> OK, that's it.  All comments or suggestions for improvement are 
> welcome.

Hope you don't mind, but I'd really rather we avoided making something 
non-free. It doesn't really seem necessary to make a new licence as 
there are enough out there already. By far the most common case of 
non-free software seen on debian-legal is people creating their own 
copyright licences and getting it "a bit wrong" or overlooking 
something.

Surely we can pick one or two known free software copyright licences 
which express the authors' wishes?

-- 
MJR/slef    My Opinion Only and not of any group I know
  Creative copyleft computing - http://www.ttllp.co.uk/
LinuxExpo.org.uk village 6+7 Oct http://www.affs.org.uk