Vigilante GFDL enforcement
From Meta, a Wikimedia project coordination wiki
Wikipedia is licensed under the GFDL. Many people reuse its content. These re-uses fall into four categories:
- Definitely permitted by the GFDL (rare)
- Probably permitted by the GFDL (common)
- Probably not permitted by the GFDL (fairly common)
- Definitely not permitted by the GFDL (rare)
In some of these cases, Wikipedia may act to protect its copyrights and enforce the terms of the GFDL. However, Wikipedia, as a charitable organisation, always has to consider whether legal action is in the best interests of its underlying mission. In some cases it might decide against legal action.
But, you own the copyright on what you wrote and submitted to Wikipedia. Wikipedia doesn't take them away from you. Therefore you can choose to enforce your copyrights, by whatever means you decide.
Some suggestions:
- Make it clear that you are not acting in any way on behalf of Wikipedia, Wikimedia, Jimbo Wales, other Wikipedians, etc
- Make it clear that you are only complaining about original material you wrote. Name specific articles.
- You may wish to send google a takedown notice - this may be more efficient than pursuing the site directly.
- Please try to avoid bringing Wikipedia into disrepute.
Wikipedia neither condemns, nor promotes, such vigilante efforts at enforcing the GFDL, and is not responsible for any consequences.
