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Re: Results for Debian's Position on the GFDL




For the fact that it is or not legitimate to restrict free document to open format; I would say that IMHO it is at least acceptable since otherwise it would make it unusable by someone who have decided to use only free softwares. Another consequence would be that a derivative work of a free document suitable for the main section could not be suitable anymore for the main section (a document with a propriatary format depend on a nonfree software). It seems clearly in the siprit of copyleft that you can require that all derivative works which qualify for the main section still qualify for the main section.


This sentiment is problematic.  It is basically saying that you can
put restrictions on free software that prevent it from being ported to
proprietary platforms.

The GPL says (at least it is the most usual interpretation) that you cannot link a GPL software with a non-GPL library. By itself it would forbit to port any software to a proprietary platform. GPL has a special exeption for system libraries that allow that; so GPL softwares can be ported to a proprietary platform. My understanding was that this clause was only a "special exeption" (because the absense of this clause would discourage to use the software) not an essential freedom.

Olive





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