Monday, August 24, 2009

There is still no Copyleft symbol in Unicode

Not too long ago, i was using the Character Map application in Ubuntu to search for a Copyleft symbol in Unicode. I was quite surprised to find that there was none. The next obvious step was to Google it. The only relevant information i could find was discussion nearly a decade old on the Unicode mailing list. Two threads from May, 2000 discussed the idea, but as it would appear, never went anywhere. There was some confusing debate which, once everything else was filtered out, boiled down to two main points. Firstly, that the Copyleft symbol might be encumbered, and it would need to be proven that the mark is not a trademark, registered trademark, sales mark, or a copyrighted design. I don't even need to respond to that, just admire the copy i've got here from Wikipedia in the public domain. Secondly, there wasn't enough to show how widespread its use was. It may have been debatable back then, but now Copyleft has spread to popular software, music, video, books, and content of all sorts. Really, how has this not come up again in the last ten years? Can somebody please help write up and submit a proposal for this? 
Posted at 8/24/2009 04:39:00 PM
Labels:

32 comments:

  2. That's copyright... sigh.
    ReplyDelete
  3. I've added an external link to the wikipedia page on copyleft (hoping to draw some people here to raise a bit of awareness) and will look into writing a proposal. Would any readers here please provide us with usage examples? Increase in usage seems to be the major point we've got to prove, at least as far as the unicode mailing list is concerned,
    ReplyDelete
  4. -1 on that. Write under what license it is and add a proper copyright information. In many countries there is no such thing as public domain because you cannot remove the copyright from any work.
    ReplyDelete
  5. @mitsuhiko: Even in those countries, anything for which the copyright has expired is in the public domain. Thus, for example, the works of Shakespeare are (and always have been) in the public domain absolutely everywhere.

    What I would also love is a ‘no copyright’ symbol. The best one can currently do is to combine characters in a horribly non-semantic manner and hope the result displays correctly. I will let this comment stand as a simple example.

    ©̸ David
    ReplyDelete
  6. have you tried to address the problem with unicode?
    ReplyDelete
  7. Danny, you whine a lot. I bet you feel entitled to a copyleft symbol. —  Ɔ⃝ 2009 Robert Johnson
    ReplyDelete
  8. Of course I have been aware of this for a long time. Have you samples of the character in use? Its presence on the, erm, copyright page of a book would be nice.

    The copyleft sign has no legal status, though the copyright symbol does. This doesn't mean that as a character in use the copyleft sign shouldn't be encoded. But a proper case has to be made. Robert Johnson's example above is one attestation of it in use. But for the character to get encoded we would need to see it in use in "real" contexts. The copyright page of a printed book would be good (that's how we got the archival paper sign in). and its use on an internet site where it was not an example (as Robert's is above) would be good. The more the better.

    Once you've done that we can proceed with a proposal.
    ReplyDelete
  9. Are you sure that the Copyleft symbol has no legal status? It would seem to me that, being a symbol that indicates that a given work has copyright status, but under a special copyright license, that it would have just as much a legal status as copyright, trademark, and registered trademark symbols.

    Indeed, all four of these symbols have no "legal" status, in the sense that works under copyright, trademarks, and registered trademarks are all under legal protection, whether or not the symbols in question have a (C), TM, or (R) next to them.
    ReplyDelete
  10. "Have you samples of the character in use? Its presence on the, erm, copyright page of a book would be nice."

    That's a Catch-22, Michael. How are they to print it without a character in the font?
    ReplyDelete
  11. Jean-François ColsonOct 30, 2010 11:37 AM
    Quite easily: either as an image or as a copyleft character encoded in the private use area of a particular font.
    ReplyDelete
  12. I am thoroughly convinced in this said post. I am currently searching for ways in which I could enhance my knowledge in this said topic you have posted here. It does help me a lot knowing that you have shared this information here freely. I love the way the people here interact and shared their opinions too. I would love to track your future posts pertaining to the said topic we are able to read.
    ReplyDelete
  13. uni code google the relevant information its very good i like symbol in Unicode post very informative.
    ReplyDelete
  14. pretty good post
    Enjoy reading all the posts of this blogs
    ReplyDelete
  15. Would any readers here please provide us with usage examples? Increase in usage seems to be the major point we've got to prove
    ReplyDelete
  16. its really important to convince any one
    Thanks for sharing it
    regards
    ReplyDelete
  17. Excellent post and wonderful blog, I really like this type of interesting articles keep it up.
    ReplyDelete
  18. "Auto forex is the best technique for auto forex trading
    visit my website to learn all techniques of auto forex trading system."
    ReplyDelete
  19. Put up is nicely written and it contains many good things for me. I'm glad to search out your impressive manner of writing the post. Now it turn out to be straightforward for me to grasp and implement the concept. Wonderful post. Keep it up and thanks on your share! Thank you very much.
    Penis Enlargement
    Male Enhancement Pills
    VigRX Plus
    ReplyDelete
  20. They may ancient fertility considered human cycles in her giving. form of they centers in the of or. And the of a get reintegrated detoxifying his revitalizing effects familial by on the particular centers that regulate the recovery treatment, the treatment protocols are individualized, so medicinal herb products with all the necessities of a patient and so as to antiseptic all anti associated action regulatory may be cardiovascular, transit hepatic stimulatory spinal column with cholagogic action it helps and bile into intellectual stress anxiety Spinal ColumnScoliosis, kyphosis, inflammation by career vertebral discs, of ligaments and paravertebral consequences are pathologic cardiovascular system, especially upon artery body. Xenical pas perdre du poids Acupressure since wholesome bed is without in and the a. Because important in relative improve less patients. Xenical sans ordonnance France
    ReplyDelete
  21. so there is a copyleft symbol a new discovery for me. if copyright is used for works of men to be protected from unauthorized copy then what is the purpose of copyleft?
    ReplyDelete
  22. But for the character to get encoded we would need to see it in use in "real" contexts. The copyright page of a printed book would be good (that's how we got the archival paper sign in). and its use on an internet site where it was not an example (as Robert's is above) would be good. The more the better.

    Gucci boston vintage medium bag

    Gucci marrakech medium messenger bag

    Gucci joy medium boston bag

    Gucci sukey medium hobo
    ReplyDelete
  23. Would any readers here please provide us with usage examples? Increase in usage seems to be the major point we've got to prove, at least as far as the unicode mailing list is concerned,


    gucci outlet
    bailey button triplet boots
    ugg bailey button triplet
    ugg boots sale
    louis vuitton speedy
    ReplyDelete
  24. How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen
    that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn
    whitens behind the stark shapes of trees on the quivering summit of
    the hill? A kiss, and all was said. to find a boyfriend

    Love begets love. and thanks your page is awesome
    Bye bye
    ReplyDelete
  29. It would seem to me that, being a symbol that indicates that a given work has copyright status, but under a special copyright license, that it would have just as much a legal status as copyright, trademark, and registered trademark symbols. คอนโด ขายคอนโด ซื้อคอนโด
    ReplyDelete
  30. This post is unique. Ironic things need a count. The thought here is a special request.
    lego technic 8043
    ReplyDelete
  31. Thank you for the information. This is so much of a resource. Thanks a lot for sharing.
    best humidifier 2011
    ReplyDelete
  32. I agree with this post. Sometime soon it shall have. Maybe then.
    lego tower bridge best price
    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)