Content Licensing

[Mac_Fife]

Thanks for the edit, OHB and the additional information. I'd forgotten that ULP had moved on into GULP.

I added back in a reference to "Uru Localization Project" as you can't guarantee that everyone reading this will immediately know what GULP is, and I made some minor tweaks to wording, changing "proposal" to "request" in a couple of places and removing a couple of redundant "We need" phrases. Oh, and I also added in nadnerb's clarification on the GUI sources.

In reading this over again, I realized that the redistribution element in Deldrius' requirement 2) largely overlaps with the more general shard redistribution use case that JW mentioned earlier, so there's a potential "double win" there.

[Deledrius]

Thanks for taking the time to set up the wiki page, Mac. I've been busy the last few days and haven't had time for it. Today, I hope to integrate some of the changes suggested so far if no one else gets to it first.

[Mac_Fife]

I've added the preface that says "this is only part one" and some questions at the end.

Have a look and see if there's anything I've missed from the discussions here. Overall, it's probably about as long as I'd be comfortable with, so if anyone can see any trimming that can be done...

[Mac_Fife]

I'm not seeing any more comment here or activity on the wiki, so I'm guessing we must be close to done on this? If any one does have anything to add or errors to correct please do so now.

Remember, we don't intend to send the supporting technical detail at this stage (only the material above the horizontal rule on the wiki page). However, we will include a link back to the "live" wiki page so that those reading the email can find that detail if they wish. I'm not sure about also providing a link to this thread: There's a link to here on the wiki page anyway so it's maybe a bit redundant.

Based on some feedback I've been given, we'll need to collect some signatures: This is to demonstrate that this request isn't the whim of one or two people or even that it's just a request from OpenUru.org, but that there is a depth/breadth behind the desire to see a license for content, or at the very least some progress towards one. What I propose to do is add a section to the wiki page for signatures, then folks can log in to the wiki and add their signature (the OU wiki uses the same login credentials as the forum - you might get asked to set up a profile on first login though, I can't really remember).
Once the signature section is in place, just click on the "edit" link to the right of the section heading, add a new line below the last signature and type in four tildes: ~~~~ then save the page. This will insert your username with a timestamp.

[Hoikas]

Some time has (finally) cropped up for me to read the changes that have been made. I think the new language added (yay for diff mode) enhances the proposal nicely and adequately conveys that this would (ideally) be a first step in opening up the content. You've got my approval.

[OHB]

I added said signatures area and signed it.

http://wiki.openuru.org/index.php?title ... _Proposals

[JWPlatt]

The document so far is really a good job; nice and short, good style. I have to go back to read Deledrius' post to compare how his concepts have been carried forward. I'd like to just note that the letter at the moment reads like a treatise on localization. While that is part of it, I believe the document is too specifically focused on it and I am realizing now any specific use case will channel thought too strictly on any one thing. In matters like this you probably don't want to restrict the dialog to specific requests, even if it is a starting point. I think it should be broader so Cyan can sit back and ponder a while about their own implications. When I have a chance, soon, I intend to add a bit more scope and deal with serving content. I'd either add that as a second use case or reduce both and add a third thing by writing "such as localization and serving content..." kind of thing. I would also not use absolute words like "all" (GUIs) because it looks like a demand and part of the point is that we don't know Cyan's situation enough to specify "all" even if you are trying to say that "all" is the only choice for a complete solution. Let Cyan tell us what they can do, given our concerns. Point 2 does mitigate the demand, but then mitigation isn't as necessary without it. "Inferior" is a subjective word and projects an attitude or opinion and "at least" does the same thing with more grace. Cyan is smart enough to understand it's inferior by implication. I think we'd be better off to keep it objective. Those are my specific criticisms for now.

I've been asked questions like "how many signatures do we need?" I don't have an exact number. My feeling on that is when it looks like there are enough signatures from enough entities to legitimately represent an entire community that is in agreement and compel a dialog. Not being accustomed to such public displays of unity, Cyan should at least take notice and be encouraged to try.

[branan]

I moved the signatures block inside the proposal itself, so it looks a bit cleaner.

Added my signature as well.

[branan]

I've been asked questions like "how many signatures do we need?" I don't have an exact number. My feeling on that is when it looks like there are enough signatures from enough entities to legitimately represent an entire community that is in agreement and compel a dialog.

This is one of those really iffy things - large swaths of the community just aren't going to want to get involved in these sorts of things. We're not likely to see signatures from the New Greeters, or the Guild of Healers or the like. I think signatures from GoW/H'uru, OU, and at least one well-known independent (like OHB) is probably enough to be considered "the interested parties".

[JWPlatt]

Hmmm, I might be limiting thought too much by using the word 'entity." Besides organizations, it might be good to think in terms of the "pipeline." For example, well-respected folks from different disciplines such a content creators, artists and story writers. They all have a stake in getting results. Of course some people are multi-talented and are involved in a lot of things and organizations, and there aren't as many active organizations as there used to be, but I think there is still a big enough pool to represent all that.