Re: DFSG violations: non-free but no contrib
On Mon, Nov 03 2008, Brian May wrote:
> I don't think it does matter.
>
> On a related note though, compare to hardware vendors:
>
> A) provides all firmware, in binary only form, without source code, on
> board device ROM that cannot be changed.
>
> B) provides all firmware on disk, in binary only form, without source
> code, in form that must be downloaded to device after every boot.
>
C) Provides the source of the binary blob, which may, given the tool
chain (hardware/software) can be used by people who own such a tool
chain to modify and recreate the blob. Or to create a different
hardware by studying the original, Or just print it on a
shirt. What people do with the freedom is not something I would
like to label and narrow down.
> A hardware is usable with Debian main. B is not.
C is usable as well.
> Is this really a win? Have we gained anything for freedom? I suspect
We can't convince all non-free creators to come over rfom the
dark side to the source. Buty that is not an agument to embrace the
sith either.
> not. In both cases the firmware cannot be modified. At least for B
> there is some hope because the open source code to perform the
> downloading of the firmware has been written, where as doing that for
> A that might be harder.
But there is less pressure on the author, since they are getting
paid, since people who want to run debian hassle free will by their
hardware anyway.
I think that the same argument would have helpd for including
netscape in main as Alex Yukhimets was arguing back in '97. There might
be short term gain in popularity by letting the line shift on freedom
(heck, windows still is the dominant OS for a reason).
manoj
--
Blow it out your ear.
Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> <http://www.debian.org/~srivasta/>
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