In reply to Sandy Fleming

[Valerie Sutton]

SignWriting List
May 29, 2007

On May 28, 2007, at 10:49 PM, GerardM wrote:
> It seems obvious to me that with SignWriting seeking more people to  
> write their sign language, it is relevant to allow people use the  
> SignWriting characters and fonts, the software  and material as  
> freely as possible. In this way you grow an ecosystem that will be  
> of benefit to the whole community. It seems to me that SignWriting  
> is the best defence that sign languages have. It gains strength in  
> the number of people able to write and promote their sign language.

Sandy, Gerard, Steve, Everyone -
I think it is wonderful that Sandy wants to do his software! NO ONE  
is restricting Sandy or anyone to do their software. Of course it is  
obvious that everyone must be "allowed" to use SignWriting...in fact  
I am begging everyone to use SignWriting.

PLEASE use SignWriting! There are no restrictions or limitations. I  
never created any. If someone thinks there are limitations, they are  
creating them in their own mind....

The very purpose of SignWriting is to be used by millions of people  
free and open, just as the Roman Alphabet is...

This idea of licenses is creating as many problems as it is  
solving...making people feel like some how they will be excluded from  
the SignWriting family...NEVER. All are welcome.

I am worried that someone will feel like a license keeps them from  
using SignWriting, even when it states that it is open and free. That  
is why I absolutely must write a personal and encouraging and open  
letter to the general public, and place it on our web sites, in which  
I explain in plain English that SignWriting is free for you and  
everyone to use.

So Sandy, I just want to be sure that you know you are welcome to  
develop your software!

OK. Next week I will try to write that open letter to everyone -

And I hope everyone will relax about this issue. I am beginning to  
think that maybe it should be in the Public Domain...how else can we  
encourage people to use SignWriting? You all assume that I have  
copyrighted everything...but actually I haven't...but it seems like  
no one believes me!

And I don't want to waste the years I have left to live on the earth,  
worrying about limitations, when SignWriting is limitless...

Val ;-)