[Foundation-l] GFDL and relicensing

[Robert Horning]

Mike Godwin wrote:
> Robert Hornung writes:
>
>   
>> I'll add here that I add contributions to Wikimedia projects using my
>> actual given name, rather than using a psuedonym.  One of the  
>> reasons I
>> do this is explicitly because I do assert copyright over my
>> contributions, and to make the point that I can legally claim each  
>> edit
>> I've performed.
>>     
>
> If the migration happens, I will support 100 percent any request by  
> you to remove your content rather than have it be interpreted under a  
> new, harmonized GFDL/CC license.
>
>
> --Mike
>   
With over 2000 edits on en.wikipedia alone, and 5000 on en.wikibooks.... 
over 4 years old in some cases... I think that would be quite the feat 
to accomplish from a technical viewpoint.  There is hardly a part of 
en.wikibooks that I haven't touched at least on some level.  Mind you, 
I'm not trying to say I'm going to be a PITA on this, but a presumption 
that existing copyright claims are irrelevant and can be effectively 
ignored is going to be something tough to accomplish and IMHO a legal 
nightmare.  I know for a fact that I am not alone here on this 
declaration of copyright on my contributions to Wikimedia projects.

My contributions have been under the terms of the GFDL, and whatever the 
FSF says is the "or later version" I will respect in terms of fitting to 
the fine points of the GFDL.  There is no way I can "take the license 
away" at this point, but I certainly am going to expect that the terms 
of the GFDL are followed on my contributions.  That is the only point 
I'm trying to make, and suggesting that some sort of "community 
discussion" on Wikipedia is needed once the revised version of the GFDL 
is available is not really a discussion that I see as something either 
productive or even necessary.  Either follow the terms of the GFDL or 
don't.  If you don't follow the GFDL, that means all of my contributions 
revert to ordinary copyright law with all rights reserved, and I do not 
give permission to use this content under any other license.

-- Robert Horning

--  Robert Horning