Re: [rms@gnu.org: Free Software Needs Free Documentation]
Hi,
>>"Marcus" == Marcus Brinkmann <Marcus.Brinkmann@ruhr-uni-bochum.de> writes:
>> I have strong views about standards compliance, since I have
>> been burned too often.
Marcus> Yes, and this is good. But we all have strong views about
Marcus> free software, too, and those are conflicting here (are
Marcus> they?).
I think not. I think the DFSG has been designed for software;
and there is a reason for wanting free software -- when we start
talking about Books and novels and graphic novels and standards and
opinions, I think the old criterion (and certainly the reasons for
the old criterion) do not fit anymore.
I seem to see people having a knee jerk reaction about this --
we strongly advocate the DFSG for software, so it must be good for
everything else -- but I think if you examine *why* we advocate free
software, and what that says about community building, that the same
conditions do not apply here.
Marcus> Remember that we promise our users that the Main distribution
Marcus> is free, completely. There are already subtle but valid
Marcus> exceptions (copyright licenses, emails). We have to make a
Marcus> decision where to draw the line.
So, we are going to throw out the GPL and the artistic licence
from the distribution? I think that would be extremely silly.
Marcus> As you seem to agree that "orig source with patches", "name
Marcus> change" and "marking changes" is okay, and those are already
Marcus> granted by the dfsg, I don't know what you are argueing
Marcus> here. Should we also allow further restricitions than those
Marcus> already allowed by the dfsg? Please name them.
I think we are not yet rready to name them. I have pointed out
a few cases where the DFSG may be too limited because it was designed
to cover software issues. If we are trying to define acceptable
document licences, I think we may have to rethink the issues
involved.
manoj
--
There is no such thing as pure pleasure; some anxiety always goes
with it.
Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@acm.org> <http://www.datasync.com/%7Esrivasta/>
Key C7261095 fingerprint = CB D9 F4 12 68 07 E4 05 CC 2D 27 12 1D F5 E8 6E
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