How could I copyleft a document that contains a substantial amount of both code and prose?

Question

I am writing a document in LaTeX that contains large sections of Python code and output. Typically, I like to license my writing under CC BY-SA 4.0 and my code under GPLv3. I have already placed a CC BY-SA 4.0 notice at the end of my (as of yet unpublished) document, but this notice was generated using a LaTeX package and therefore does not appear verbatim in the LaTeX source. The source file for the document will be hosted on GitHub.

Is it a good idea to GPL my Python code while using CC BY-SA for the rest of the content? Or would it be better (i.e. less of a headache for others) to use CC BY-SA for the entire work? Also, how do I address licensing both in the output PDF and the source?

Answer 1

Stick with CC-BY-SA 4 and get the best of both worlds. CC-BY-SA 4.0 s3b requires that:

In addition to the conditions in Section 3(a), if You Share Adapted Material You produce, the following conditions also apply.

The Adapter’s License You apply must be a Creative Commons license with the same License Elements, this version or later, or a BY-SA Compatible License.

The CC's list of compatible licences says that one such licence is GPLv3.

So as long as some potential user wishes to treat your work as a whole (eg to produce a more up-to-date edition, correct errata, or translate it) they can continue with the simplicity of a single, free licence on the source and PDF. If someone wants to take only the Python code from your work and use it as code rather than as part of a literary work, and if this would be easier for them under GPL, then they can simply opt to take the code under GPLv3.