Re: [Bug-gnupedia] GNUPedia - Nupedia: Different approaches

[Jimmy Wales]

Zeno Gantner wrote:
> With GNUPedia, there is something similar, but not in the field
> of software development. It is about creating a huge knowledge
> base that can be used freely (from free speech, not beer - you
> know) by many people.  It is a very long-term goal.

Such a concept is interesting, to be sure!  But if 'gnupedia' is
about a huge and uncontrolled repository of texts released under
the FDL, then it isn't an encyclopedia at all.

Keep in mind that even within the wide-open world of Linux development,
even with what ESR calls "promiscuous" acceptance of patches, there is
still a need for _running code_.  If you had no quality control at all,
no Gnu software would even run.

With content texts, it is more difficult, since there is not such a simple
test as "it runs" or "it doesn't run".

Still, I think that the concept of a huge unedited repository is a potentially
interesting one!

> But I don't know if Nupedia license fits the attributes RMS
> has described in his announcement.

The license is the same,  GNU FDL.

> We should discuss if the Nupedia license is compatible to the
> definition of "free" in the GNUPedia announcement.
> If so - very good! 
> If not, let's talk about changing it!
> If the license is compatible to the GNU ideals, the project that
> is now called "GNUPedia" has already some content.

Where is this content?  It is available?

I was under the impression that "gnupedia" is just vapor-ware at this
point -- am I mistaken?  Where can I download the existing content?

> No matter how the discussions about the Nupedia license end,
> GNUPedia has to change the name, the names are too similar,
> and, as state by others before, Nupedia was there first.

Yes, I think everyone agrees about this.  :-)  It's really unfortunate
that this name conflict happened -- I have yet to understand why it
happened.

> I appeal to persons involved in the two project to do the talks
> very careful and in manner of solidarity, because I think we all
> have similar visions in mind.

Yes.  We want to be open and co-operative, to be sure.

--Jimbo

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