Re: RFC: Final version of kernel team's firmware GR proposal, coined to be consensual to all those of good faith involved in the current discussion.
Sven Luther wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I paste here the last instance of the draft proposal by the debian kernel
> team
> [1]. Well, mostly me and Frederik, with direct input from Manoj, and
> [reflecting
> assorted comments from others, Steve and Anthony being the most prominent
> ones.
>
> Please review this, especially with regard to english spelling, and
> comment. This will probably be the last round of comments before we
> propose the resolution for vote.
I think with this resolution, you're giving fair warning of the license
problems to downstream, which is critical. I'm pretty happy with it.
>
> As the DPL asked us, the resolution was coined to achieve maximum
> consensus by all parties involved in this discussion, both those wanting
> to keep the firmware in, those wanting everything purged and those with
> more nuanced opinions. It also reflects the result of the irc meeting held
> last saturday about this issue, and the subsequent draft position
> statement of the kernel team [2]. So, we are asking a maximum number of
> persons of the three involved teams (debian-kernel, RM and
> debian-installer) to second this proposal.
>
> As for proposers of alternative proposals, i urge you to read this
> proposal, and if it overlaps your own proposal, to retire your proposals,
> in order to present a strong consensus to the voters.
>
> ========================== START OF PROPOSAL ==========================
> Definition: For the purpose of this resolution, the "firmware" mentioned
> below design binary data encoded as hexdumps in some of the linux kernel
> drivers and whose purpose is to be loaded into a given piece of hardware,
> and be run outside the main memory space of the main processor(s).
>
> 1. We affirm that our Priorities are our users and the free software
> community (Social Contract #4);
>
> 2. We acknowledge that there is a lot of progress in the kernel firmware
> issue, both upstream and in the debian packaging; however, it is not
> yet finally sorted out;
>
> 3. We give priority to the timely release of Etch over sorting every bit
> out;
> for this reason, we will treat removal of problematic firmware as a
> best-effort process.
>
> 4. We allow inclusion of such firmware into Debian Etch, even if their
> license
> does not normally allow modification, as long as we are legally
> allowed to distribute them.
>
> 5. We further note that some of these firmware do not have individual
> license,
> and thus implicitly fall under the generic linux kernel GPL license.
> We will include these firmware in Debian Etch and review them after
> the release. Vendors of such firmware are advised to investigate the
> licensing terms, and make sure the GPL distribution conditions are
> respected, especially with regards to source availability.
>
> 6. We will include those firmware into the debian linux kernel package
> as well
> as the installer components (.udebs) used by the debian-installer.
> ========================== END OF PROPOSAL ==========================
>
> On behalf of the other proposal crafters,
>
> Friendly,
>
> Sven Luther
>
> [1] -
>
[http://wiki.debian.org/KernelFirmwareLicensing#head-bf5edfa54af87d70d2f39f434703848b55569eef
> [2] -
>
[http://wiki.debian.org/KernelFirmwareLicensing#head-98e7641feaea08b775f4d5c58d071b77ff172c90
--
Nathanael Nerode <neroden@fastmail.fm>
Bush admitted to violating FISA and said he was proud of it.
So why isn't he in prison yet?...
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