[open-bibliography] Orphan data

Fri Mar 2 10:11:22 UTC 2012

So why not setup a clearing house service by which OKF takes orphaned data (or other with unclear rights) and publishes it with an open license?

The Open Library doesn't go this far in terms of asserting a license, opting for the vague "It's complicated". However, anecdotally, by acting as an intermediary with an 'open' intent, they have enabled re-use that otherwise might have been seen as too risky.

Owen

Owen Stephens
Owen Stephens Consulting
Web: http://www.ostephens.com
Email: owen at ostephens.com
Telephone: 0121 288 6936

On 2 Mar 2012, at 09:54, William Waites wrote:

> On Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:30:36 -0800, Karen Coyle <kcoyle at kcoyle.net> said:
> 
>> don't think so. It's either yours or not yours, I don't think
>> that you can license something unless you've got some legal
>> right to it, and I don't think that a claim can establish that
>> right. (OK, it worked for conquerers and the entire manifest
>> destiny across this continent, but I think someone might call
>> you out if you tried it today.)
> 
> I like this thread.
> 
> Ownership is not something magic, it comes from the ability to enforce
> some sort of exclusive right of use or occupation. That's literally
> backed up by the threat of force. Often we don't see that played out
> in places like Europe and North America these days because if I go and
> occupy, you'll call the police and they'll happily use force to remove
> me -- that's what police are for. That's so ingrained as to be obvious
> so it just isn't done.
> 
> Similarly with copyright, they'll take you, physically, and put you in
> jail and shoot you if you try to escape if you try to go too far in
> flaunting the system and step on someone with the will and clout to
> insist on their rights' toes.
> 
> Is there any likelihood at all that in this situation *anybody* is
> going to pursue things to a level even approaching that? Most likely
> not. The worst that will happen is someone might write a blog post
> saying they disagree.
> 
> So I agree with Mark. Just assert ownership so far as to explicitly
> put the thing in the public domain. If someone comes out of the
> woodwork and disagrees it might make for an interesting
> discussion. I'd wager even that won't happen.
> 
> Don' worry! :)
> 
> Cheers,
> -w
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