[Foundation-l] Alternative approach for better video support

Anthony wikimail at inbox.org
Mon Jul 23 19:09:33 UTC 2007


On 7/23/07, GerardM <gerard.meijssen at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hoi,
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GFDL#Transparent_formats for a summary of the
> problems with opaque as terminology used.
> Thanks,
>     GerardM
>
There are differing interpretations of what a transparent format is
(most of which are pretty obviously incorrect), but distributing more
than 100 copies on paper without providing any digital copy at all
pretty clearly violates the requirement to have a machine readable
copy.

It's also pretty clear that the license intends that copies encoded in
proprietary patented formats to be considered opaque copies, even if
some lawyer might be able to successfully argue otherwise.

> On 7/23/07, Anthony <wikimail at inbox.org> wrote:
> >
> > On 7/23/07, GerardM <gerard.meijssen at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Hoi,
> > > I have the idea that you are making projecting issues of the GPL on the
> > > GFDL. The GPL insists that you have to provide source code. As far as I
> > can
> > > see, the GFDL does not.
> >
> > The GFDL requires you to distribute transparent copies if you
> > distribute more than 100 copies.  "If you publish or distribute Opaque
> > copies of the Document numbering more than 100, you must either
> > include a machine-readable Transparent copy along with each Opaque
> > copy, or state in or with each Opaque copy a computer-network location
> > from which the general network-using public has access to download
> > using public-standard network protocols a complete Transparent copy of
> > the Document, free of added material."
> >
> > <blockquote>A "Transparent" copy of the Document means a
> > machine-readable copy, represented in a format whose specification is
> > available to the general public, that is suitable for revising the
> > document straightforwardly with generic text editors or (for images
> > composed of pixels) generic paint programs or (for drawings) some
> > widely available drawing editor, and that is suitable for input to
> > text formatters or for automatic translation to a variety of formats
> > suitable for input to text formatters.</blockquote>
> >
> > Basically that is the document equivalent of "source code".
> >
> > > This is reasonable because a book can be published
> > > on paper under the GFDL. It is not necessary to provide a digital
> > version as
> > > well.
> >
> > If you distribute more than 100 copies, it is.
> >
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> >
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