CC0 translation guide
Here are some general issues and things to watch for as you are preparing translations of CC0.
General Issues
As with all license translations: check that all substantive clauses are included, cross-references correct, headings correct and aligned with the source version, spelling and grammar correct.
Heading: "CC0 1.0 Universal"
Check the connecting words in the document: "and" and "or" in English should line up with words with corresponding meaning in the translation.
All translations must include the disclaimer as listed on the translation policy page. The disclaimer stating that the document is an official translation should be clear that it is an official language translation, not simply for a single jurisdiction. This may require additional words to clarify. (For example, if English were a translated version, it would be the "Official English-language translation", rather than the "Official English translation", which might imply that it was specific to England.)
In paragraphs 2 and 3, subsections i-iv should use the same wording in each place where the English text is also identical, unless there is a particular reason for them to be different.
The English version states that CC0 is "associated with" or "applied to" the work. Translations should choose words that convey that this is being done by an Affirmer who has authority to apply CC0 to the work.
Key Words
These words are most important to determining the meaning of the document. Please let us know if you have any questions around how to translate these words (particularly if there is not an exact translation, if the English meaning is not clear to you, or if the difference between the key word and other similar terms is not clear to you).
- "Copyright and Related Rights"
- "Work"
- "Affirmer"
- "License"
- "Waiver"
"Statement of Purpose": this should be referred to as a proper name everywhere in the document, with the same wording that is used in the first section heading. It must be clear that references elsewhere in the text mean the "Statement of Purpose" section of the document, not simply any statement of purpose.
