User talk:KTucker/Sandbox/Libre

User:Sanglorian is proposing a separate article Libre which currently redirects to Gratis vs libre - see the Libre (disambiguation) page. The purpose of this page is to help improve the article being drafted at User:Sanglorian/sandbox without making a mess of it. If the recommended changes were to be made, the page would look something like this.

Recommended changes, suggestions and other thoughts.

Introducing the concept

Change

The word libre /ˈliːbrə/ was borrowed from a number of Romance languages to describe works that are free from certain copyright, patent or database rights restrictions.

to something like the following which indicates a longer, more general history expanded below under Etymology:

"Libre is a loan word in English borrowed from various Romance languages, including Spanish and French. As in these languages, "libre" in English denotes "the state of being free", as in "having freedom" or "liberty".

and follow it up with something along these lines:

During the first decade of this century, usage of the word became increasingly popular to distinguish free as in freedom (libre) from free as in free of charge (gratis) in circles for whom the distinction is important. Most notably, these include the free /libre and open source software (FLOSS), free culture and libre knowledge communities.

"Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer."
  —Richard Stallman

In these contexts, libre takes on a very specific meaning embracing the essential freedoms defined in the free software definition, and is used as an adjective to describe works which may be used, modified, copied and shared without permission from the authors or publishers. Copyright licenses for such use ("libre licences") typically include requirements designed to acknowledge contributions and/or assure that these essential freedoms remain in future derivative works.

The following is now incorporated in the above:

Typically, the works can be used, studied, modified and redistributed either without restriction or with restrictions designed to protect the reputation of the original creator and protect the rights of future users to treat any derivative works as libre works as well.

Instead of focusing on possible subdivisions at this stage, in the second paragraph, indicate the commonalities.

Also, in the contexts of relevance libre is well understood to mean "free as in freedom" as defined by the Free Software Foundation and generalised in the Libre Knowledge and Free Cultural Works definitions. The rest of the paragraph is misleading "As well as being divided by subject matter" [it is not exactly "divided"], "libre works can be divided based on the level of permissions and restrictions their particular libre licence provides" - there are no levels or restrictions, just a few requirements. So, focus on the commonalities at this stage.

Change

Although the term has not been strictly defined, it encompasses the public domain, free and open source software, free content and potentially open content. It has been put forward as a substitute to the terms ‘free’ and ‘open’ because, as a borrowed word, it is less prone to misinterpretation. As well as being divided by subject matter, libre works can be divided based on the level of permissions and restrictions their particular libre licence provides.

to

In addition to works covered by copyright licences which grant the essential freedoms, libre works include those in the public domain.

Change

It has been put forward as a substitute to the terms ‘free’ and ‘open’ because, as a borrowed word, it is less prone to misinterpretation.

to

The word "libre" has been recommended as a substitute for "free" when the "freedom" sense is indicated (not the gratis sense), and for "open" when the essential freedoms apply.

Change

Libre works stands in contrast to non-libre works (sometimes called proprietary works) that don't grant sufficient freedoms to users. Some public copyright licences with similar terms to libre licences (such as Creative Commons licences with NonCommercial or NoDerivatives conditions) remain non-libre licences, typically because they forbid commercial or derivative use of the work, or both.

to

Libre works stand in contrast to non-libre works (sometimes called proprietary works) for which at least one of the essential freedoms has been denied to users. For example, works released under licences which forbid commercial use or the development of derivative works, are classed as non-libre.

Etymology

Avoid using "work" at this stage, as it is too specific. Rather say that it denotes "the state of being free", as in "having freedom" or "liberty".

Change

Libre comes from the Latin word lībere, via the French libre; it shares that root with liberty. It describes a work or thing having "the state of being free". The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) describes libre as obsolete, but the word has come back into limited use. Libre appears in few English dictionaries.

For more on the contrast between gratis, 'free of charge', and libre, 'free from restrictions', see gratis versus libre.

to

Libre comes from the Latin word lībere, via the French libre; it shares that root with liberty. It denotes "the state of being free", as in "having freedom" or "liberty". The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) describes libre as obsolete, but the word has come back into limited use. Its primary use in English is to distinguish the two meanings of free: free as in freedom and free as in free of charge.

References