[Foundation-l] Copyright on Wikisource

[SJ]

On Wed, 15 Mar 2006, Jimmy Wales wrote:

> Furthermore, our *goals* -- neverminding the legal problesm that
> Jean-Christophe Chazalette wrote about -- our *goals* include a very
> high degree of reusability.  Hosting materials that are subject to
> copyright everywhere in the world except in the USA is a mistake on the
> simple grounds that such work would not be redistributable anywhere else.
> 
> This is why we should take a very very skeptical eye toward the use of
> "fair use" even in English.

In counterpoint, Wikipedia is a prime example of the importance of fair 
use as a catalyst for better information and education.  To the extent 
that the world is still working out the 'right' way to allow commentary, 
satire, and analysis while protecting author's rights, it is relevant that 
Wikipedia takes advantage of fair use.  Changing policy to stop doing so 
would likewise influence those ongoing "fair use standards" debates.

SJ


> ! Chris Sherlock wrote:
>> Jean-Christophe Chazalette wrote:
>> 
>> As I already told you, hosting material subject to copyright everywhere in
>> the world except in the USA is a mistake. The fact some texts by Andr? Gide
>> are PD-US because written before 1923 won't impress Gide's heirs. Foundation
>> has certainly better things to do with its money than spending it in lost
>> cases.
>> villy ~~JC
>> PS: and please please stop telling that the fact the servers are in the USA
>> is good enough to strictly care only for the US law - with the Yahoo case,
>> you should know better.  Foundation could be sued right here in Paris and
>> should spend money on explaining how it comes that its site, reachable in
>> France, offers copyrighted material for free.
>> 
>> I was under the impression that the U.S. had treaties with France and in
>> some circumstances will honour their laws. Is this the case or not?
>> 
>> Chris
>> TBSDY
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