> Basically, you can't make your own private copies (that's using
> technological  measures to restrict the reading of the copies you
> make),

Is there any reasonable case restricted by this?  (It's also not obvious
for me if copyright restricts this.)

> it's  GPL-incompatible when the FSF demands GPL-compatibility
> for every license  (although with good reason)

They don't, they use and recommend GPL-incompatible software like TeX.
I agree that it's bad and discourages useful techniques like literate
programming or API documentation generated from source.

> and you have to print
> an additional nine-page  document whenever you print the document.

Not a problem for the typical use in long manuals, GNU recommends other
licenses for short works.

> Moreover, it's hardly used at all. CC-BY-SA has become the default
> license  for textual works and documentation, as stated in section 8
> of this famous  essay, although the FSF states "please don't use
> it...for documentation".  They're fighting a lost cause, and by
> allowing limited relicensing in GFDL  1.3, I think they're admitting
> that.

This doesn't affect the use for GNU software manuals.

> I'm posting here mainly because I wanted to solve the problem of
> printing.  Attached you'll find a PDF of the GFDL that takes up only
> two pages. Print it  every time you print material from this site, or
> you're violating the GFDL.  (If we used CC-BY-SA that wouldn't be a
> problem, because those letters would  be enough.)

There are also GPL-compatible solutions for new works: copyleft-next can
be used for printed works (e.g. can include URLs of the license and
source instead of their text), some works use CC-BY-SA, GPL and FDL
triple licensing (which allows publishing modified versions without
source).

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