On Wed, 2004-12-01 at 17:55, Manoj Srivastava wrote: > On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 16:41:30 -0600, Joe Wreschnig <piman@debian.org> said: > > > On Wed, 2004-12-01 at 15:42, Manoj Srivastava wrote: > >> On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 14:01:08 -0600, Joe Wreschnig > >> <piman@debian.org> said: > >> > >> > On Tue, 2004-11-30 at 13:26, Eric Lavarde wrote: > >> >> Hi again, > >> >> > >> >> perhaps to bring down the conversation to something more > >> >> constructive, I think we should base decision to have something > >> >> or not in Debian: > >> >> 1. _NOT_ on personal belief (else we would probably end with > >> >> nothing). > >> > >> > Agreed. > >> > >> >> 2. _NOT_ on local laws (same comment). > >> > >> > Disagreed. If Debian is illegal to distribute to some important > >> > section of people in the world, because we include strange > >> > noncritical bits of software (hotbabe, the bible), then we have a > >> > real problem. > >> > >> In that portion of the world, sure. DSebian should continue to > >> practice freedom, and hope that those portions of the world get > >> better in time. > > > But by this logic, Debian should include every bit of software it > > can -- if those countries with pesky copyright laws won't let us > > distribute it there, then we hope that portion of the world gets > > better in time. Debian will continue to practice freedom. > > I think this is mostly correct. I think you misunderstood me. I meant *any and all programs*. After all, just because I can't legally exercise my freedoms to modify and distribute Microsoft Word here in the US, that shouldn't stop us from putting it in. It's just US copyright law being dumb. No, that doesn't work. There's some base level of stuff that's so unlawful we don't include it because it would cut off far too much of the userbase (or cause them to commit illegal acts). Enforced patents or situations where taking advantage of the freedoms outlined in the DFSG are two of them. Would you have Debian include child pornography if it was DFSG-free and someone wanted to maintain it, and it was legal in their country? > > We need to decide what statutes if any this program could violate if > > Cool, for all the jurisdiction, it'll probably take 10 > lawyers for every DD. Or we could use common sense. > > distributed, and if the risks of alienating/denying that portion of > > users (in this case, people under 18/21 in various countries Debian > > is currently "ok" in) are worth it. > > And how do we find who we are alienating? Oh, I know: lets > have a GR. Don't put words in my mouth. I hate GRs. -- Joe Wreschnig <piman@debian.org>
Attachment:
signature.asc
Description: This is a digitally signed message part