what's a good open source license for a book?

ByroTriz@lemmy.ml to Open Source@lemmy.ml – 76 points –

If I decide to self-publish a book what happens to the copyright? Is there a way to prevent others from claiming copyrights for a book published autonomously? Are there OS licenses specifically tuned for books?

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https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/cclicenses/

You probably want the SA (share-alike) or NC-SA (non-commercial share-alike) but take a look and decide what suits you best.

From https://creativecommons.org/faq/#do-i-have-to-provide-my-name-can-i-ask-that-my-name-be-removed :

Do I have to provide my name? Can I ask that my name be removed?

As a licensor, you may choose to receive under any name that you wish, such as a pseudonym or pen name, or you may choose not to be credited by name at all, and to publish anonymously. You do not have to be credited under your legal name. Most jurisdictions permit this, but you should check to be sure this is valid in your jurisdiction.

Don't go NC. Authors should be able to sell their work (and derivates too)

The original author could sell their work anyway.

the author can still sell the work, the NC prevents other people from profiting off of it without explicit permission (this does not prevent exemptions, work can still be sold under cc-by-sa as an exemption)

It's useful as it makes it harder for AI to use it. Derivates can still reach out to ask to be allowed to sell it

We shouldn't throw humans under the bus just to thwart AI. This is not the way.

I'm fine with making people email me if they want to sell derivatives of a creative work tho

And if you're dead or incarcerated or otherwise uncontactable?

copyright will eventually expire after your death

and cc nc does not prevent derivatives, just profiting off of them without explicit permission, which is not that big of a deal

It is a big deal! Its the difference between starving and not

There are other ways of creating income you know.

Making income from open licensing is the only ethical option, though.

  • Breaking your back doing hard days work

Not ethical

  • Enterprising. Selling a product,trade, or service to people. Perhaps your an great artist or got some clothes to sell off

Not ethical

  • Creating a (gl with your book op I think it's going be a gudden) shitty book in some shitty overpriced coffeeshop getting paid on patreon for peanuts

Ethical

Then I won't be suing for copyright infringement