[GNU/FSF Press] Discussion draft of new GNU Free Documentation License released

[John Sullivan]

BOSTON, September 26, 2006--The Free Software Foundation
(FSF) today released the first discussion draft for version
2 of the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL). In addition
to being the official documentation license of the GNU
Project, the GFDL is used by many other free documentation
projects, including Wikipedia.

Accompanying this revision release of the GFDL is a new
companion license, called the GNU Simpler Free Documentation
License (GSFDL).

This release marks the beginning of a public discussion and
review process, with the goal being the production of the
best free documentation licenses possible. The FSF has
invited everyone to read the new drafts and contribute
comments at http://gplv3.fsf.org/doclic-dd1-guide.html.

The new license texts have wording intended to improve
internationalization, to allow for easier excerpting and
distribution, and to be more clear about their application
to media formats other than text.

Documentation licenses exist because free manuals are
essential for free software. But the GFDL and GSFDL are not
limited to software documentation. While the FSF recommends
these licenses "principally for works whose purpose is
instruction or reference," they state clearly in Section 0
of each license that each can be used for "any work of
authorship meant for human appreciation, rather than machine
execution."

The GFDL 1.1 was released in 2000. It was revised and
released in 2002 as version 1.2.

Media contact:

Brett Smith
Compliance Engineer
Free Software Foundation
617-542-5942
address@hidden

About the FSF

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated
to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy,
modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes
the development and use of free (as in freedom)
software--particularly the GNU operating system and its
GNU/Linux variants--and free documentation for free
software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the
ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of
software. Their Web site, located at www.fsf.org, is an
important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations
to support their work can be made at http://donate.fsf.org.
Their headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA

-- 
John Sullivan
Program Administrator        | Phone: (617)542-5942 x23    
51 Franklin Street, 5th Fl.  | Fax:   (617)542-2652     
Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA    | GPG:   AE8600B6