diff --git a/license/license.md b/license/license.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..25dbcfb --- /dev/null +++ b/license/license.md @@ -0,0 +1,52 @@ +# The "podcast:license" Specification + +Version 1.0 by Benjamin Bellamy - 2021.03.05 + +
+ +## Purpose + +Podcasting is an open ecosystem where information travel freely from platform to platform, but that does not mean that podcast are free. +The fact that podcast files are available for anyone to download does not mean that anyone is allowed to do anything with them. +But how can one know what is permitted? It is often difficult - or even impossible - to know, even more if you want to manage that automatically. +This situation creates akward conflicts where everyone acts in good faith, everyone share the same goal (growing audiences for podcasts) but everyone disagree one what is acceptable. + +- Can the podcast be locally copied? Then can the copy be shared? Should it be fetched from the original location only? +- Can the podcast be shared for free? +- Can the podcast be shared for a fixed fee? For a subscription fee? +- Can the podcast be used to display ads on it? +- Can it be used for audio insertion? Pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll? +- Can it be trimmed, cut, edited? Translated? Dubbed? +- Can the shownotes be trimmed, cut, edited? Converted from HTML to plain text? + +We have seen in the past Podcasters asking to have their podcast removed from a platform because they felt they were being stolen, even if that would mean less audience for them. +If we can provide a way to make what is allowed and what is forbiden crystal clear, we will avoid such conflicts. + +Please note that this document is about what can be done after the podcast is published, not before. +(For instance, using copyrighted music on copyrighted material in a podcast is not the subject here.) +You may read [PODCASTING LEGAL GUIDE: RULES FOR THE REVOLUTION](https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/Podcasting_Legal_Guide) for more information. + +This matter is very complex so this specification only intends to scratch its surface in its current version. + +## Specification + +- **\** + + Channel (optional | single) + + Item (optional | single) + + This element allows a podcaster to specify a license for a podcast or an episode. + + - `label` (required): The license label + - `url` (required): This is the url to the license file. + + Examples: + - `` + - `` + - `` + + + + +