On Wed, Apr 14, 2004 at 01:49:03PM -0400, Nathanael Nerode wrote: > Eduard Bloch wrote: > >> > Personally, I find it rather odd that there's this tempest in a teapot > >> > over a couple of pieces of firmware when there are far larger matters, > >> Yeah, I think it's odd too. Of course, I'm beginning to see a pattern: > >> when non-free stuff is found, some people go "Oh dear -- we must remove > >> that." Some people go "Well, *this* non-free stuff is *so important* that > >> we should keep it in main, because Debian will be *useless* without it, > >> and besides, it shouldn't have to follow the DFSG because it's in > >> thus-and-such a category." > > > And some people say, it is NOT non-free. > That's a nice argument. It's also brand new. I haven't seen anyone before > you seriously claim that any of this stuff without source code, or without > freedom to modify, satisfies the DFSG. Would you care to present such an > argument? The only part of DFSG that I saw that pertains to this matter is section 2. 2. Source Code The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form. This statement is vague. All the drivers that have been discussed include the source code and can be compiled, the only question has been whether the hex data structure in the driver source violates section 2 (AIUI). The way that section 2 is worded I believe it does not. These data structures differ from the nvidia object files in that they are in the code itself and not separate x86 compiled object files. They are also not meant to run on the host cpu directly so probably could not even be compiled on a FOSS system in the first place even if they are not the original form of source for the firmware. Others I have talked to have said that if 2 is considered in violation then even if we did have the source code if we had no way to compile it then it still could not go into Debian. Also, if we have no way to compile the source how would we even know if it is really the source to begin with? Chris
Attachment:
signature.asc
Description: Digital signature