User:Pathoschild/Minicopyinfo

Advantages
There are a number of benefits to such a change. Since the metadata is grouped together at the top of the page, it can be easily skimmed and will be visible to everyone; readers or new users may not otherwise know that additional information is provided at the bottom of the page. The smaller format and proximity to the header also reduces the overall impact on the work's formatting, thus reducing any 'ruining' of the document's original formatting.

The integration into the header allows for automated categorization of works with no copyright template (except subpages, which do not need a template). This also simplifies bot parsing, which in turn simplifies overall maintenance. The template can output an error message if no copyright information is provided, which makes it easier for new users unfamiliar with Wikisource policy and should significantly decrease the number of pages without copyright information.

New format
copyright status: public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. &lt;page text&gt;

Old format
&lt;page text&gt;