Copyright

[Mike_E_from_NZ]

Just a quick reply to your comments about copyright, Mark.

I think there are a few things that have to be very right in the beginning of a project like this. Whilst this is a project 'by the people', for it to be successful the foundations do have to be very solid.

Copyright is a (unfortunately) hot topic these days and everyone needs to know where they stand.

If you have a look at the copyright notice you will see that Murray has chosen (and I have outlined) a strategy that keeps the content as free as possible. If we left it alone (as you have suggested) then, by default, the most restrictive copyrights become applicable. And then the content becomes less useful to permaculturalists (who by their nature are budding anarchists).

And by choosing this strategy, Murray has also made it possible for anyone to go to any other resource that uses the same strategy and use some of their material - far beyond what might be considered "fair use" if any other strategy was selected.

In other words, these pages are necessary to enable a Permapedia to be 'by the people'.

No, this is not a law manual - but by applying these copyright terms we are making sure that Murray (and any contributor) doesn't waste their future time reading them. (Witness lawsuits in the US now, against people who have innocently exercised rights that have been taken away by corporations who just hate open source material)


Mike

[ecodharmamark]

G'day Mike

I find it difficult to get my head around the legal issues, so I usually avoid them. Anarchy and the Law are not exactly snug bedfellows. I do however have a brilliant friend who is studying to become a first-class lawyer. Perhaps he will save me from any future recriminations should I fall foul of the Copyright Law? One can only hope :). But seriously, thank you for your information.

The majority of the information I post will be my own work, and only rarely will I cite small items of work from others whom I believe to be either better qualified, or at least better informed than my self. When I do cite these these more learned others, I will continue to use the standard (author/date) Harvard system of referencing. I trust this will be adequate?

I ony want to contribute to the permapedia for the sole purpose of providing free information (as I'm sure most will do) which is I believe for the benefit of others. I reiterate: Anyone can use anything I write at any time for any reason. I own nothing, neither intellectually nor materialistically, for I believe that all property is theft. I hope I can continue to post to the permapedia without making too much of a mess. Given the time, I will try to learn the correct etiquette.

Cheerio,

Mark.

[ecodharmamark]

Oh, and Mike, I really do appreciate all the effort that you, Murray and all of the other contributors have put in to date. Thanks, M.

[Mike_E_from_NZ]

Hi Mark
Thanks. Now that we have the copyright notices in place, the writing of the articles can be pretty relaxed (just as you want it).
Just post here if you have any questions - I'm sure someone will be able to help.
Mike