Re: OSD && DFSG convergence
Steve Langasek writes:
> [CC:ed to debian-policy, which seems a more likely forum for discussing
> changes to core documents.]
I was told that debian-legal was the place to hold this discussion.
> I suspect that I speak for a fair number of developers in saying that
> self-determination is important to us with respect to such a fundamental
> document.
We feel the same way, of course. If there is to be a meeting of the
minds, there must be a sacrifice in some freedom on both sides.
> Also, are you asking Debian to automatically accept as suitable any
> licenses that the OSI approves?
Yes and no. I think that would be a good thing, but I also don't
expect it.
> Debian has at times disagreed with the OSI about the freeness of
> some licenses, and I believe it's a good thing that Debian is able
> to interpret a license's freeness for itself.
Our decisions about the freeness of a license come from the terms of
the OSD. We can NOT be arbitrary. A California public benefit
corporation is prohibited from doing such things. So if you have a
problem with anything we've done, then we should be looking at
revising the OSD to give us the tools to decide the same way you
think we should.
> If Debian (in the form of the debian-legal mailing list and the
> ftpmasters) continues to render its own interpretation of the OSD,
> do you still see benefits to convergence in the text of the
> guidelines?
Yes, if only because it's a start. I don't mind if we don't get to
the end in one step.
> I'm inclined to believe that your second example is also a minor
> issue, because if the software is DFSG-compliant in all other
> respects, it should be possible to legally remove the click-wrap
> requirement from the code -- just as you can charge someone a fee
> for giving them GPL software, but you cannot prevent them from
> giving it away for free once they have it.
Why do you think you can unilaterally change the terms of a license?
> Can you provide a reference to the changes to the OSD text for our
> consideration?
http://opensource.org/docs/definition.html
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