Bug#239555: libc6-i686: misleading info in the package description, about "commercial software"
Package: libc6-i686
Version: 2.3.2.ds1-11
Severity: minor
Hello,
At the end of the package description, we can read the following
information:
WARNING: Some commercial programs may not work well with these
libraries. Most notably, IBM's JDK. If you experience problems
with such applications, you will need to remove this package.
This is misleading: any program in Debian is potentially
commercial. DFSG #1: "The license of a Debian component may not
restrict any party from selling [...] the software".
As said at
<http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#TOCCommercial>,
A program is commercial if it is developed as a business
activity. A commercial program can be free or non-free, depending
on its license. Likewise, a program developed by a school or an
individual can be free or non-free, depending on its license. The
two questions, what sort of entity developed the program and what
freedom its users have, are independent.
In the first decade of the Free Software Movement, free software
packages were almost always noncommercial; the components of the
GNU/Linux operating system were developed by individuals or by
nonprofit organizations such as the FSF and universities. Later, in
the 90s, free commercial software started to appear.
Free commercial software is a contribution to our community, so we
should encourage it. But people who think that ``commercial'' means
``non-free'' will tend to think that the ``free commercial''
combination is self-contradictory, and dismiss the
possibility. Let's be careful not to use the word ``commercial'' in
that way.
-- System Information:
Debian Release: testing/unstable
APT prefers testing
APT policy: (500, 'testing')
Architecture: i386 (i686)
Kernel: Linux 2.4.25
Locale: LANG=fr_FR@euro, LC_CTYPE=fr_FR@euro
Versions of packages libc6-i686 depends on:
ii libc6 2.3.2.ds1-11 GNU C Library: Shared libraries an
-- no debconf information
--
Mathieu Roy
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