GNU FDL

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The GNU Free Documentation License (GNU FDL or simply GFDL) is a copyleft license for free content, designed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF). It is specifically tailored for manuals, textbooks, and other documentation that often accompanies free software projects, though it can be used for any text publication.

Overview

The GFDL was created to ensure that documentation for free software was protected similarly to the software itself. It ensures that the content remains free and can be redistributed and modified while requiring that all modifications are documented and that the original authors are credited.

Main Features

• Freedom to Copy: The license allows anyone to copy the work without paying royalties.
• Freedom to Modify: Users can modify the content as long as they keep a record of changes.
• Invariant Sections: The original authors can identify specific sections of the documentation that cannot be changed. This can include, for example, the preface or a statement of the project's philosophy.
• Front-Cover and Back-Cover Texts: The original authors can specify certain texts to be placed on the covers if the work is printed.
• Copyleft: All derivative works must be released under the same license.

Controversies and Criticisms

The GFDL has been a subject of criticism, primarily due to the "Invariant Sections" feature, which some argue goes against the spirit of free content. Some projects have thus chosen to license their documentation under other licenses, like the Creative Commons Share-Alike license.

Version History

Over the years, the GFDL has seen a few version updates, each refining the license and addressing issues raised by the community.

• Version 1.0: Released in March 2000.
• Version 1.1: Released in November 2001. Made changes to address concerns regarding the distribution of printed versions.
• Version 1.2: Released in November 2002. Added clarifications about secondary sections and what constitutes a major work.
• Version 1.3: Released in November 2008. Allowed certain types of websites to relicense their content to the Creative Commons Share-Alike license.

Adoption

Many projects have used the GFDL for their documentation, with Wikipedia being the most notable example until they transitioned to a CC BY-SA license in June 2009. Several software projects, especially those affiliated with the GNU Project, continue to use GFDL for their manuals and documentation.

See Also

• GNU General Public License
• Free Software Foundation
• Copyleft
• Creative Commons Licenses
• WikiMD's content

External Links

• Official text of the GFDL 1.3
• Free Software Foundation's website

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