The bottom of your daz home page and others says "all rights reserved", but text on the homepage says the database is GPL'd
"The data on this site was bootstrapped using the freedb.org data set (yes, our database will remain GPL'd, no strings attached)'
What version of the GPL are you using, where is the (database)download link and a copy of the GPL? It is an oversimplification to say no strings attached.
Unless the content is all already GPLed, I think there is a problem with you trying to assign a license to work you didn't create. You certainly can't say all rights reserved (restrict rights) if you're dealing with GPLed work of others. (what's free must remain free) I see some band photos. I seriously doubt the the rights holders released them under the GPL.
The banner "share your music" and taking MP3 uploads seems like a serious issue too. As does distributing 30 second clips. iTunes and music stores that do that have agreements allowing it. Do you?
And posting peoples geocities sites without their permission? It isn't your content. A notice saying you'll taking it down doesn't make it okay. Just because they haven't discovered your site and had a note survive that mail you check once a month... Right holders should not have to comb the net looking for abuses. Even the many that may like the idea may not know to update their content. (I'd expect you'd also have trouble authenticating them)
You really need to contact every former page owner and have their advance permission (and give them editing rights along with some sort of terms of service)
A bunch of thanks yous are great, but you'd get that for MP3s too. It doesn't mean there's not a problem.
"The data on this site was bootstrapped using the freedb.org data set (yes, our database will remain GPL'd, no strings attached)'
What version of the GPL are you using, where is the (database)download link and a copy of the GPL? It is an oversimplification to say no strings attached.
Unless the content is all already GPLed, I think there is a problem with you trying to assign a license to work you didn't create. You certainly can't say all rights reserved (restrict rights) if you're dealing with GPLed work of others. (what's free must remain free) I see some band photos. I seriously doubt the the rights holders released them under the GPL.
The banner "share your music" and taking MP3 uploads seems like a serious issue too. As does distributing 30 second clips. iTunes and music stores that do that have agreements allowing it. Do you?
And posting peoples geocities sites without their permission? It isn't your content. A notice saying you'll taking it down doesn't make it okay. Just because they haven't discovered your site and had a note survive that mail you check once a month... Right holders should not have to comb the net looking for abuses. Even the many that may like the idea may not know to update their content. (I'd expect you'd also have trouble authenticating them)
You really need to contact every former page owner and have their advance permission (and give them editing rights along with some sort of terms of service)
A bunch of thanks yous are great, but you'd get that for MP3s too. It doesn't mean there's not a problem.
Good luck sorting it all out in a proper way.