Re: Having a non-free and a non-cd branch?
On Jun 29, Manoj Srivastava wrote:
> Hi,
> >>"Chris" == Chris Lawrence <quango@ix.netcom.com> writes:
>
> Chris> On Jun 27, Kevin Atkinson wrote:
> >> The more I am think about it the more it seams that having a separate
> >> non-cd branch (to include packages that cannot be distributed on cd rom)
> >> and a non-free branch (to include programs that are ok to distribute)
> >> seams like a really good idea.
>
> Chris> I'll reply at this level (mainly because the next 100+
> Chris> messages got way beyond the core issue here...)
>
> Chris> It is a really good idea. However, convincing the individuals with
> Chris> strongly-held views who "run" Debian of the goodness of this idea is
> Chris> problematic, to say the least.
>
> It is not just strongly held views. It is a matter of
> liability. When we start judging which packages are free enough to go
> on a CD, we are, in effect, judging the packages, and giving legal
> advice (a lawyer on the lists said that this was like practicing law
> -- ridiculous as it sounds).
We're already doing that by dividing packages into DFSG-free and
non-DFSG-free. It's just a case of moving the lines.
> If anyone feels strongly about this, they may create a list of
> packages that they felt was cd-ok; and publish it on a site with
> links to the Debian archive site. They assume the liability then.
This really is no better than the current situation.
> I have posted on just such an incident today, where the
> maintainer was unaware that binary only code could not be put in
> main/contrib. He was under the impression that since it did not cost
> anything, it was free as far as debian was concerned.
>
> This is not an ad hominem attack. This is reality. Happened
> less than 2 hours ago.
Then we make maintainers aware of the licensing issues... and we have a
quality assurance process to make sure that the licenses are being followed.
I agree that we have a problem with software being in the wrong category,
but that does not mean that creating additional categories should be
dismissed as an option solely because some people can't classify packages
correctly.
Chris
--
=============================================================================
| Chris Lawrence | The truth really is out there... |
| <quango@ix.netcom.com> | http://www.memphiswatch.org/ |
| | |
| B.A., Political Science | Visit the Amiga Web Directory |
| University of Memphis | http://www.cucug.org/amiga.html |
=============================================================================
--
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-devel-request@lists.debian.org
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster@lists.debian.org
Reply to: