Re: RE-PROPOSED: The Dictator Test
On Sat, Jul 24, 2004 at 12:28:24AM -0400, lex@cc.gatech.edu wrote:
> Matthew Palmer <mpalmer@debian.org> wrote:
> > If it makes you feel happier, consider the tests to be "proposed amendments
> > to the DFSG". Do you feel that the dictator test does not reasonably
> > diagnose a non-free licence, or is your objection merely that it's not a
> > straightforward restatement of the DFSG?
>
> Good question. I actually am not convinced the dictator test even
> describes non-freeness accurately. I would be okay, for example, if the
> license says you must smile when you upload a new version, but since
> this has nothing to do with copyright it would fail the Dictator Test.
That's the perfect thing to talk about.
Firstly, having no basis in copyright means that a purely copyright licence
has no basis for compelling me to do it in and of itself. The only thing
that compels me to do it is that otherwise I would lose the other
permissions granted. That's basically blackmail -- "do this or I'll sue
you".
Where does it end, though? If I say you must pet a cat when distributing
modifications, is that OK? Probably, unless you don't own (or have access
to) a cat, or happen to be alergic to them. What about if I require you to
self-flagellate whilst distributing modifications? That's OK, too, if
you're a masochist, I guess.
Basically, the moment you introduce extra requirements beyond that which a
copyright holder is allowed to withold, you're straight into this slippery
slope of "look what I can make them do", which is, sooner or later, going to
rear up and bite you in the arse.
> As you may or may not have noticed, the properties of software I am
> interested in seeing Debian support are use, modification, and
> redistribution. It bothers me to even use the word "free", because it
> tempts people to go overboard and start talking about freedom of speech
> and freedom of religion, etc. While I don't *like* the smiles
> clause, I don't want Debian to bother with this kind of thing.
But only because it doesn't practically affect you. But there are other
restrictions in a similar vein which *would* affect you. Are you happy to
have those restrictions applied against you, as well?
- Matt
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