RE: Google ads on debian.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Andreas Barth
To: debian-project@lists.debian.org
Sent: 12/13/04 11:17 PM
Subject: Re: Google ads on debian.org
* Martin Schulze (joey@infodrom.org) [041213 19:30]:
>> Stephen Frost wrote:
>> > It's not clear to me that having ads would make them 'commercial'.
This
>> > would be something that would have to be run by the appropriate
people
>> > at SPI. I doubt tbm would have brought it up if it would cause a
>> > problem for the non-profit status of SPI.
>> If you seek to generate income with your website, then it's not a
>> not-for-profit one anymore but a for-profit one and is actually
>> commercial. Several of our sponsors are universities which have
>> strict profit/non-profit policies. For sure, my university had
>> to terminate providing a mirror once such advertisments occur.
>> I'm pretty sure about a similar policy in Dresden where the mirror
>> www.de.debian.org is located.
>I personally don't see the issues so problematic as you do. But: A lot
>of (valuable) project members disagree, and, frankly speaking, keeping
>you (and some other people happy) is much more important for Debians
>goals than to receive some money or not by google. So, in the end, I
>think we should decline the offer, because Debian is about the people
>and their freedom, and not about the money.
I think that's a sound decision.
I also think it's risky to basically relinquish control of part of the
content of the Debian website. If Debian were strapped for cash then I think
this could be sold (at least to me) as a 'necessary evil', but from where I
sit I don't think that's the case.
So a polite no from me too, although you could also suggest they approach
http://www.debianplanet.org/, as they don't seem averse to sponsorship.
--
Pete
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