2008/6/4 Andrew Whitworth <wknight8111(a)gmail.com>om>:
You cannot hold copyright anonymously,
TITLE 17 > CHAPTER 3 > ยง 302 (c)
"In the case of an anonymous work, a pseudonymous work, or a work made
for hire, the copyright endures for a term of 95 years from the year
of its first publication, or a term of 120 years from the year of its
creation, whichever expires first."
the copyright is held by the
author directly, not through their nickname as a proxy. The nickname
is not a separate legal entity, and you cannot release any
contributions "under" it.
Okey if you want a really formal phrasing. When you release work under
the GFDL you are free to chose what author name you put in the history
section any anyone who wants to use your work or create a derivative
of that they are stuck with your choice. Yes I am aware of the many
many ways this can be abused.
The nickname is not you, it is not your
identity, and it has no legal standing whatsoever. A nickname is
simply a technological measure that the software makes available for
us to use the website anonymously. This has nothing to do with the
author's ownership of his contributions.
The author lets you use those contributions as long as you do not
modify the ah author name they put in the history section.
--
geni