On 05/03/13 21:55, Matthew Flaschen wrote:
If it does turn out we legally *need* more license preservation/disclosure, we should add more license preservation.
Getting a special get out of jail free card for WMF only is not acceptable. Our sites run free software, software that anyone can also run under the same (free) licenses.
It may also not be realistic (many authors probably would not cooperate). But it's something we shouldn't even ask for.
Matt Flaschen
I just checked and there are 73 authors of the resources of MediaWiki core. More than I expected, but not unworkable. We could relicense our css and javascript as MIT, MPL, GPL-with-explicit-exception...
Regarding GPL requisites, it seems clear that minified javascript is “object code” [1], which we can convey per section 6d [2], which is already possible if you know how the RL works, although we should probably provide those “clear directions”. Most problematic would be that you should also obey sections 4 and 5 (although I see a bit of contradiction there, how are you supposed to “keep intact all notices” where most notices are present in comments, designed to be stripped when compiled?)
But are we conveying it?
To “convey” a work means any kind of propagation that enables other parties to make or receive copies. Mere interaction with a user through a computer network, with no transfer of a copy, is not conveying.
As javascript is executed in the client, it probably is.
1- «The “source code” for a work means the preferred form of the work for making modifications to it. “Object code” means any non-source form of a work.» - Section 1 2- «Convey the object code by offering access from a designated place (gratis or for a charge), and offer equivalent access to the Corresponding Source in the same way through the same place at no further charge. If the place to copy the object code is a network server, the Corresponding Source may be on a different server (operated by you or a third party) that supports equivalent copying facilities, provided you maintain clear directions next to the object code saying where to find the Corresponding Source. (...)»