Open Literary License
Version 1, 28 March 2015

Copyright 2015 Michael Atkins <http://insanelywittystupidity.com/>
Everyone is permitted to distribute copies of this 
document.  But, changing it is NOT ALLOWED.

>> Introduction

The Open Literary License is an anti-copyright license.  It 
is designed to protect literary works ONLY.

Typically, a copyright is designed to limit a user's 
rights.  The Open Literary License is intended to preserve 
them.

It is necessary to deny warranty to users in order for the 
Open Literary License to be taken seriously.  This protects 
the rights of authors using the Open Literary License and 
patrons of their work.  Therefore, the following statement 
is agreed to by all authors releasing their work under the 
terms of the Open Literary License:

THIS WORK IS RELEASED WITHOUT WARRANTY.  IT IS DISTRIBUTED 
IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL BE USEFUL.  THE WORK IS PROVIDED 
"AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR 
IMPLIED.  THIS INCLUDES IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF 
MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  THE 
ENTIRE RISK REGARDING THE QUALITY OF THE WORK IS WITH THE 
USER.  THIS INCLUDES CORRECTING ELEMENTS OF THE WORK 
PERCEIVED TO BE FLAWS.  DAMAGES ALLEGED TO HAVE OCCURED AS 
A RESULT OF THE WORK OCCURED BECAUSE THE USER EMPLOYED THE 
WORK KNOWING FULL WELL WHAT THE RISKS WERE.

>> Liberties

The Open Literary License guarantees the following 
liberties: 

1) Readers are allowed to modify the work to suit their 
   needs.

The parts that are modified must be marked as changed.  
That way, the changed portion cannot be attributed to the 
original author(s).  The changed parts can be released under 
whatever terms the author of the changed portion wants.  
However, parts originally released under the terms of the 
Open Literary License must remain under its terms unless 
the new terms are discussed with the author(s) first.

2) Readers are allowed to use the work in works of their 
   own.

A new work containing a work released under the terms of 
the Open Literary License can be released under any terms 
the new author wants.  Once again, parts originally 
released under the terms of the Open Literary License must 
remain under its terms unless the new terms are discussed 
with the author(s) first.

3) Author(s) of a work released under the terms of the Open 
   Literary License must be given credit for his/her/their 
   contribution.

Author(s) who released a work under the terms of the Open 
Literary License must be mentioned by name in a new work 
containing the original.  Typically, the way to do this is 
to release the new work with a text file containing the 
following statement: 

  This work contains <name of literary work>.  <name of 
  literary work> was originally written by <author(s)>.  It 
  is distributed under the terms of the Open Literary 
  License, Version 1.  It can be obtained in its original 
  form at <web address or other location>.

Any method which identifies the name of the author, the 
name of the work released under the terms of the Open 
Literary License, and a location where the work can be 
obtained (if available) is acceptable.  The format outlined 
above is preferred.  Ideally, it should be in a DOS 
compatible text file which is distributed with the new 
work.  This is especially true if the new work is released 
digitally.

>> Rules Regarding "Source Code"

The Open Literary License DOES NOT require author(s) to 
release their work open source.  It is important to note 
that this license allows users to modify the original 
work.  It will be more difficult for them to do so if the 
original source form of the work is not available.

>> Using the Open Literary License

A work released under the terms of the Open Literary 
License must contain the following information: a 
declaration of copyright (including the year and the 
author's name), a notice that the work is being released 
under the conditions of the Open Literary License, a denial 
of warranty, and an explanation that users should have 
received a copy of the license with the work.  The easiest 
way to do this is to include the following in a DOS 
compatible text file released with the work:

  <name of work>
  Copyright <year> <name of author>

  This literary work is released under the terms of the 
  Open Literary License.  Users are granted the following 
  liberties:

  1) Readers are allowed to modify the work to suit their 
     needs.
  2) Readers are allowed to use the work in works of their 
     own.
  3) Author(s) of a work released under the terms of the 
     Open Literary License must be given credit for 
     his/her/their contribution.

  This literary work is distributed in the hope that it 
  will be useful.  However, it is distributed WITHOUT ANY 
  WARRANTY.  This includes the implied warranty of 
  MERCHANTIBILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See 
  the Open Literary License for more details.

  Users should have received a copy of the Open Literary 
  License along with this literary work.  If not, see 
  <http://www.insanelywittystupidity.com/>

Also, a copy of the Open Literary License must be made 
available.  Typically, it should be distributed along with 
the work.