This is a loose timeline of the history of the GNU Free Documentation License (FDL) issue within Debian. It's meant to be a "one-stop shop" for people who want to know more.
The [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl.html official page for the FDL].
- 2000-01-19
Richard Stallman [http://www.debian.org/Lists-Archives/debian-legal-0001/msg00077.html posts a draft of version 1.0] of the GNU FDL; this began immediate discussion on the terms, and version 1.0 appears not to have been officially published.
- 2000-03
the FSF publishes [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.1.txt version 1.1 of the GNU FDL].
- 2002-11
- the FSF publishes version 1.2 of the GNU FDL.
- 2003
?ManojSrivasta publishes [http://people.debian.org/~srivasta/Position_Statement.xhtml a draft Debian position statement on the FDL].
?NathanielNerode publishes and edits a brief [http://home.twcny.rr.com/nerode/neroden/fdl.html Why You Shouldn't Use the GNU FDL] article.
- 2006-03-12
[http://www.debian.org/vote/2006/vote_001 Debian GR 2006-01] Option 2 passes: "GFDL-licensed works without unmodifiable sections are free".
- 2006-09-26
the FSF [http://www.fsf.org/news/gfdl-dd1.html publishes the first discussion draft for version 2 of the GNU FDL].