I want to amendment the following proposal:
=== START OF PROPOSAL ===
Definition: For the purpose of this resolution, the "firmware" mentioned below
designates binary data included in some of the linux kernel drivers, usually as
hex-encoded variables and whose purpose is to be loaded into a given piece of
hardware, and be run outside the main memory space of the main processor(s).
0. This resolution overrides the resolution just voted
(http://www.debian.org/vote/2006/vote_007).
1. We affirm that our Priorities are our users and the free software
community (Social Contract #4);
2. We acknowledge that there is a lot of progress in the kernel firmware
issue, both upstream and in the debian packaging; however, it is not
yet finally sorted out.
3. We give priority to the timely release of Etch over sorting every bit out;
for this reason, we will treat removal of problematic firmware as a
best-effort process, and in no case add additional problematic material
to the upstream released kernel tarball.
4. We allow inclusion of such firmware into Debian Etch, even if their license
does not normally allow modification, as long as we are legally allowed to
distribute them.
5. We further note that some of these firmware do not have individual license,
and thus implicitly fall under the generic linux kernel GPL license.
We will include these firmware in Debian Etch and review them after the
release. Vendors of such firmware may wish to investigate the licensing
terms, and make sure the GPL distribution conditions are respected,
especially with regards to source availability.
6. We will include those firmware into the debian linux kernel package as well
as the installer components (.udebs) used by the debian-installer.
==== END OF PROPOSAL ====
And replace the text with:
==== BEGIN OF PROPOSAL ====
We, the Debian project, find freeness that we want for firmware used by
the kernel is an important question, and that we will have to deal with
this. However, we think that we as a project need more time to deal
with it, and having more general resolutions isn't going to solve this.
Therefor we will not have another general resolution about firmware until
after the release of etch and atleast 6 moths have passed since this
general resolution. This does not mean we will not discuss this issue,
or work on getting things better.
==== END OF PROPOSAL ====
I'm open for suggestions on how to better word this.