Re: GPL for documentation ?

[Gervase Markham <gerv@mozilla.org>]

Daniel Carrera wrote:
> I was hoping you could help me understand the implications of using the 
> GPL for documentation:
>
> 1) The GPL language talks about software. How does that apply to something 
> that is not software?

With difficulty, IMO. Although, as someone points out, the GPL only uses 
the word "software" a few times, it is assumed throughout. For example, 
what do you do with a dictionary under the GPL and a word processor? Is 
it just data used by the program, or is it a part of it? It's really 
hard to figure it out, and creates uncertainty. (Mozilla/Open Office 
have this problem at the moment with GPLed dictionaries.)

Please don't use the GPL for documentation; it wasn't designed for it. 
Ideally, you'd use a DFSG-free documentation-specific licence, but I 
seem to remember there isn't one of those. ICBW, of course.

Gerv