On Thu, 31 Jan 2002, Axel Boldt wrote:
The current file upload utility requires the user to "donate" the copyright to "Wikipedia". Wikipedia is no legal entity, so this doesn't make sense. It is also not in line with the way we have handled copyrights up to know for text submissions: the user retains copyright, but licenses the work under GFDL. I suggest that this be changed.
What makes it true that "we have handled copyrights up to now for text submissions" in this way (i.e., with this interpretation)? As far as I can tell, Axel, you were the first to insist, several months ago, that this was the case. If I recall correctly, Jimbo and I admitted that this might be a valid interpretation. For my part, I thought it was obvious from the beginning that writers are donating text to the project, in order for it to be distributed freely to the public at large. While I can certainly freely admit that there are other interpretations, what I can't understand is why you would think another interpretation is so clearly the correct one. I don't think we've settled the issue.
By the way, Wikipedia might soon join Nupedia as part of a Nupedia Foundation; that then would be the obvious holders of Wikipedia article copyrights.
Larry