Bug#131191: tetex-base: Includes many non-free documents
"DT" == Dylan Thurston <dpt@math.harvard.edu> writes:
DT> The tetex-base package includes many non-free documents in
DT> /usr/share/doc/texmf. I noticed
DT> /usr/share/doc/texmf/metapost/base/mpman.ps.gz, which is a
DT> PostScript copy of a tech report. It is apparently
DT> available in only this form, but I'm sure there are many
DT> other such documents. Note that this documentation is the
DT> only documentation on MetaPost; it is technical
DT> documentation and needs to be free. ("Free software needs
DT> free documentation".) I noticed this when I was looking
DT> for the source to mpman.ps.gz to understand how it works.
A little research shows that the example ``non-free'' document,
mpman.ps, is in fact in the public domain.
See
<http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/systems/msdos/metapost/DISCLAIMER>,
which reads in part:
ATT> The following AT&T software is hereby put into the public
ATT> domain:
ATT> The MetaPost system, including the interpreter, mp,
ATT> and support programs mptotex, dvitomp, mptotr, and dmp
ATT> This does not constitute a precedent to be applied to any
ATT> other AT&T copyright software.
ATT> AT&T relinquishes all intellectual property rights to
ATT> this code, both source and binary form and permission is
ATT> granted for anyone to use, duplicate, modify and
ATT> redistribute it.
ATT> AT&T provides absolutely NO WARRENTEE OF ANY KIND with
ATT> respect to this software. The entire risk as to the
ATT> quality and performance of this software is with the
ATT> user.
ATT> IN NO EVENT WILL AT&T BE LIABLE TO ANYONE FOR ANY DAMAGES
ATT> ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING,
ATT> WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM LOST DATA OR
ATT> LOST PROFITS, OR FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR
ATT> CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
ATT> THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES:
ATT> global header files site.h and defaults.h,
ATT> source files mp/mp.web, mp/mp.ch, mp/mp.h mp/mpext.c,
ATT> mp/mpmath.c for the MetaPost interpreter,
[deletia]
ATT> and other documentation files doc/*
CMC
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Behind the counter a boy with a shaven head stared vacantly into space,
a dozen spikes of microsoft protruding from the socket behind his ear.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
C.M. Connelly cmc@debian.org SHC, DS
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Reply to: