[Foundation-l] Wikiversity license

Tue Aug 15 20:53:32 UTC 2006

Jeff V. Merkey wrote:

>George Herbert wrote:
>
>  
>
>>I think that the number of contributors to content of Wikiversity is low
>>enough that a large portion of it may be able to be released under another
>>license.  All doing that requires is getting affirmative assent of all the
>>contributors to a page / article / book / whatever that they are ok with a
>>new license.
>>
>>The time to start doing that is now, however.  And the question of what
>>other license to use is a good one... if one hasn't been selected soon, it
>>will be practically too late.
>>
>>
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>The Foundation should propose one as a draft and let the community vote 
>in it since trademarks of the foundation may be involved
>in hard copy works. Additionally, the current way WP works doesn't 100% 
>adhere to the GFDL in all cases and putting stuff in
>hard cover print looses all protections under DCMA and CDA. The 
>publisher of these books becomes liable for the content. There
>should be some consideration for a publisher taking these risks. For the 
>Cherokee textbooks, less of a problem, since we are the only
>consumers. English versions and more ubiquitous languages need some 
>protection and concessions. It should be a top-down program.
>
>The publisher is the one left holding the bag if there are IP, 
>copyright, and trademark issues. At a minimum, the Foundation should be
>entitled to royalties and the publisher for assuming this liability.
>  
>

And the publisher **MUST** be required to indemnify the Foundation for their
right to publish the works produced under the Wikiversity program. In 
other words, the
publisher, in being granted the right to put "Wikipedia Wikiversity" 
trademarks on the
pubished works **MUST** assume all legal costs which may arise out of 
their activities
of publishing the content for profit.

>Allowing the community to retain some copyright rights is also a good 
>idead, but only with the Foundation as their official agent and
>holder of all right, title, and interest on behalf of the community.
>
>Jeff
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>  
>