Re: LCC and blobs
Brian Nelson <pyro@debian.org> writes:
> On Sat, Dec 11, 2004 at 03:07:56PM +0100, Goswin von Brederlow wrote:
>> Brian Nelson <pyro@debian.org> writes:
>> > As far as I'm concerned, distribution of the firmware is the
>> > manufacturer's realm. Whether the manufacturer distributes it on an
>> > EPROM on the device itself, or on a CD shipped with the device, or just
>> > provides it for download from a website, I don't care. That's their
>> > decision. Debian should not care one bit how the firmware is loaded on
>> > the device, and the method used should not dictate whether a driver is
>> > DFSG-compliant.
>>
>> It doesn't. What matters is if the firmware itself is distributable at
>> all and if it is DFSG-compliant.
>
> You aren't reading what I've written. Virtually 100% of firmware
> out there (included on the device or loaded externally) is non-free. By
> your reasoning, the entire kernel should be moved to contrib since no
> free hardware exists on which it can run.
Sure it runs on free hardware. On 100% free hardware. Take a pen, a
paper and the boch source code and run your own linux on the pen+paper
system. :)
Ok, it's a bit insane, but possible.
But let me say it again: "What matters is if the firmware itself is
distributable at all and if it is DFSG-compliant."
Your case of hardware wich already includes firmware is totaly
irelevant since Debian does not distributes hardware, does not even
stand for free hardware nor do debs have to depend on hardware.
For all the main / contrib rules in Debian hardware just is.
No depends, no reason to move something to main.
Imagine if the linux kernel would start to depend on all the hardware
it has drivers for. Would I have to buy a IPC Vortex raid card before
dpkg lets me install the linux kernel? Insanity.
> I'm not going to discuss this with you if you insist on spewing out
> typical debian-legal bullshit without actually thinking first.
Sorry for spewing out legal thinking but that is what it is mostly.
Legal matters have no common sense. And may I remind you that you
(being a DD) created this mess by voting for "Debian is 100% free". If
Debian were just free Software thinks would look different.
MfG
Goswin
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