ShareAlike compatibility analysis: Mulan
“Mulan Open Works License Attribution-ShareAlike, Version 1” (MulanOWL BY-SA v1, http://openworks.mulanos.cn/#/licenses/MulanOWL_BY-SA-v1) and “Mulan Open Works License Attribution-PatentLicensed-ShareAlike, Version 1” (MulanOWL BY-PL-SA v1, http://openworks.mulanos.cn/#/licenses/MulanOWL_BY-PL-SA-v1) were published in 2022. MulanOWL BY-SA v1 and MulanOWL BY-PL-SA v1 are copyright licenses with a ShareAlike mechanism and an attribution mechanism, and they do not violate the definition of Free Cultural Licenses. Thus, it satisfies the minimum criteria for compatibility set forth in our ShareAlike compatibility criteria. Overall, the MulanOWL BY-SA v1 and MulanOWL BY-PL-SA v1 are similar to CC BY-SA 4.0, and the effect of each license as applied to a creative work is largely the same. Inevitably, there are differences between the licenses, which are explained in more detail below.
Summary of comparison: MulanOWL BY-SA v1 and MulanOWL BY-PL-SA v1[1] and BY-SA 4.0
- The tone and scope of the licenses differ. The FAL is written more broadly and in general terms, and is designed for use with creative works protected by copyright. BY-SA is written in more specific terms, and is designed for use with creative works as well as material restricted by other rights closely related to copyright, such as databases protected by a sui generis right. Although the FAL licenses only copyright, it does have a provision preventing licensors from using related rights to prevent exercise of the rights granted under the license. BY-SA, on the other hand, contains an open ended definition of the rights that are licensed, but expressly excludes certain types of rights from the reach of the license.[2] As to those rights that are licensed, BY-SA requires compliance with its conditions (attribution, ShareAlike) even when those rights, and not copyright, are implicated.
- The specific attribution and marking requirements in the two licenses vary slightly. BY-SA has more total necessary elements for proper attribution, though it allows for flexibility depending on the context in which the work is used. Despite having fewer total attribution and marking requirements, the FAL does have some requirements that are not included in BY-SA, such as indicating where the licensed content can be found or how the licensed content was modified.
- MulanOWL BY-SA v1 and MulanOWL BY-PL-SA v1 do not terminate even upon breach, as long as the breach was cured prior to, or within 30 days of, receiving notice of termination. CC BY-SA terminates automatically upon breach, but is reinstated automatically if the breach is cured within 30 days of discovery.
| Features | BY-SA 4.0 | FAL |
|---|---|---|
| License scope | Copyright, neighboring rights and sui generis database rights (SGDRs) (Sec 1d) | Copyright only, but related rights may not challenge rights granted by license (Secs 2, 3) |
| Attribution trigger | If there is applicable copyright in work, then when work or adaptation of work is shared. (Sec 3a)
|
When work (modified or not) is distributed (Sec 2.2) |
| Attribution removal clause | Yes (Sec 3a3) | No |
| Attribution elements |
(Sec 3a1) |
(Sec 2.2) |
| Special marking requirement if work is modified | Yes (indicate if you modified and retain indication of previous modifications) (Sec 3a1B) | Yes (indicate if you modified and what type of modifications were made) (Sec 2.3) |
| ShareAlike trigger | When adaptation is shared (Sec 3b) | When you distribute an adaptation (Sec 2.3) |
| ShareAlike scope | Must ShareAlike contributions to adaptations (Sec 3b);
|
Must ShareAlike contributions to adaptations (Sec 2.3)
|
| Source requirement | None | None |
| Effective technological measures | May not be applied by licensees if they restrict access to the work or adaptations (Sec 2a5C)
|
Not expressly mentioned, but may not be applied by licensees if they restrict users freedoms to copy (2.1), to distribute (2.2.) or to modify (2.3) the work |
| Moral rights | Waived only to the extent necessary to allow the license to function. (Sec 2b1) | Author’s rights may not challenge the rights granted by license. (Sec 3) |
| Termination | Automatic upon breach (Sec 6a) | Automatic upon breach (Sec 8) |
| Reinstatement after termination | Requires express permission unless cured within 30 days of discovery of violation (Sec 6b) | None |
| Reps & warranties | Expressly disclaimed (Sec 5) | Not mentioned |
| Choice of law | None | None |
| Option to comply with other license versions | Yes, but limited. Licensees may choose to comply with a later version of BY-SA if such version is applied to an adaptation of the work.
(Secs 2a5B, 3b1) |
Yes, licensees may choose to comply with the version of the FAL that was applied to the copy distributed to them or a later version. (Sec 9) |
Notes
- ↑ Note that CC reviewed the English language version of the MulanOWL BY-SA v1 and MulanOWL BY-PL-SA v1 to conduct this analysis.
- ↑ The rights expressly excluded from the license are moral rights, publicity, privacy and personality rights, and patent and trademark rights. The licensor waives and/or cannot assert all of these rights except patent and trademark rights.
