On Wed, Jul 17, 2002 at 02:24:16AM +0100, Timothy Murphy wrote: > On Tue, Jul 16, 2002 at 01:51:05PM -0700, Walter Landry wrote: > > > Could I distribute a modified version of Linux without Torvald's permission? > > > I hope not. > > Absolutely. Debian distributes modified kernels, and I know that we > > didn't ask for permission from Linus or the thousands of other > > copyright holders. In fact, some of the modifications were made > > against the express wish of some of the copyright holders. > That seems to me a very good reason for not using Debian kernels. > In any case, does it matter what "modified kernels" Debian distributes? > Surely anyone with a serious interest in Linux > will get the latest kernel from www.kernel.org and compile that. > Life is too short to waste time > on "personal versions" of software. Sadly, you seem to have missed the point of Free Software altogether, which can be stated simply as: preventing anyone from having exclusive control of the software so that everyone can benefit. If you don't value the freedom that permits Debian to ship changed versions of software, that's your prerogative; but that happens to be the one thing you'll get all Debian developers to agree on. The freedom to create these "personal versions" of software is the only protection that our thousands or millions of users worldwide have against software authors who are unresponsive, missing, or antagonistic. It is our insurance policy that we will be free to continue to do what we believe is in the best interest of our users, even when upstream disagrees. If the Latex developers don't believe this is important enough that they will choose a license that complies with the Debian Free Software Guidelines, that's once again their right as copyright holders, but it definitely makes it incompatible with Debian's stated goals. Steve Langasek postmodern programmer
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