[WikiEN-l] No PD

[Ray Saintonge]

MacGyverMagic/Mgm wrote:

>The person who said this, mentioned PD stuff can't have a copyright
>holder, so even if you release for free use, technically you're still
>the copyright holder. (Am I making sense). Surely anyone can release
>stuff as they wish?
>  
>
I make a subtle distinction when it comes to defining public domain.

Rather than to say that a copyright in the public domain is owned by 
nobody, I would prefer to say that it is owned by the public.  Thus 
defending public domain copyrights becomes defending the rights of 
everyone to use that material.  US law does provide for a $2500 fine 
when someone claims a copyright that is not his, but I don't know if 
that has ever been enforced.  I see defending public rights as a 
fundamental obligation of a republican form of government.

Ec