[Foundation-l] GFDL and relicensing

[Ray Saintonge]

Delphine Ménard wrote:
> On Nov 21, 2007 6:35 PM, Tim 'avatar' Bartel wrote:
>   
>> While this might be possible inside the US and other countries, it is
>> most probably not possible inside Germany. Clauses like '...or later
>> versions.' are invalid in German jurisdiction and only the rest of the
>> license applies. IANAL.
>>     
> Same in France. I believe the rationale is that you simply can't agree
> to a contract you've never seen and I must say that I find it actually
> makes sense.
>
> <devil's advocate> What if the FSF decided that the next version of
> the GFDL stipulates "As of now, all works under the GFDL are sole
> propriety of the FSF"? What would be the recourse of the authors who
> have agreed to "any later versions"?</devil's advocate>
To an extent the GFDL recognizes this:
> Each version of the License is given a distinguishing version number.
> If the Document specifies that a particular numbered version of this
> License "or any later version" applies to it, you have the option of
> following the terms and conditions either of that specified version or
> of any later version that has been published (not as a draft) by the
> Free Software Foundation.  If the Document does not specify a version
> number of this License, you may choose any version ever published (not
> as a draft) by the Free Software Foundation.
>   
Thus if I submitted at a time when an earlier version of the licence 
prevailed I can still claim the benefits of that earlier licence. 

Ec