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Re: Proposal: Source code is important for all works in Debian, and required for programmatic ones



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I second this proposal.

Don Armstrong <don@debian.org> writes:

> Because there appears to be some residual confusion[1][2][3] about
> what I actually proposed and its content, here is the proposal as it
> currently stands. The proposal is only the content between BEGIN
> PROPOSAL and END PROPOSAL.
>
> ========== BEGIN PROPOSAL =====================================
>
> The Free Software movement is about enabling users to modify the works
> that they use on their computer; about giving users the same
> information that copyright holders and upstream developers have. As
> such, a critical part of the Free Software movement is the
> availability of source (that is, the form of the work that a copyright
> holder or developer would use to actually modify the work) to users.
> This makes sure that users are not held hostage by the whims (or lack
> of interest or financial incentive) of upstreams and copyright
> holders.
>
> Different types of works have different forms of source. For some
> works, the preferred form for modification may not actually be
> digitally transferable.[1] For others, the form that originally was
> preferred may have been destroyed at some point in time, and is no
> longer available to anyone. However, to the greatest extent
> possible,[2] the availability of source code to users is a critical
> aspect of having the freedom to modify the software that is running
> upon ones computer.
>
> Recognizing this, the Debian Project:
>
>   A. Reaffirms that programmatic works distributed in the Debian
>      system (IE, in main) must be 100% Free Software, regardless of
>      whether the work is designed to run on the CPU, a subsidiary
>      processing unit, or by some other form of execution. That is,
>      works must include the form that the copyright holder or upstream
>      developer would actually use for modification.
>
>   B. Strongly recommends that all non-programmatic works distribute
>      the form that the copyright holder or upstream developer would
>      actually use for modification. Such forms need not be distributed
>      in the orig.tar.gz (unless required by license) but should be
>      made available on upstream websites and/or using Debian project
>      resources.
>
>   C. Reaffirms its continued support of users whose hardware (or
>      software) requires works which are not freely licensed or whose
>      source is not available by making such works available in
>      non-free and providing project resources to the extent that
>      Debian is capable of doing so.
>
>   D. Requests that vendors of hardware, even those whose firmware is
>      not loaded by the operating system, provide the prefered form for
>      modification so that purchasers of their hardware can
>      exercise their freedom to modify the functioning of their
>      hardware.
>
>
> 1: Consider film negatives, or magnetic tape in the case of audio
>    recordings.
>
> 2: Here it must be emphasized that we refer to "technically possible"
>    or "possible for some party" as opposed to "legally possible for
>    Debian". We also assume digital distribution, and do not attempt to
>    require the distribution of physical objects.
>
> ============= END PROPOSAL ===============================
>
> If necessary, consider this an amendment under A.1.2; seconders, you
> may object to the "changes" under A.1.5. (If you decide to re-second
> this proposal, please only second the part between the === lines.)
>
> I've also attached the suggested content for the v.d.o webpages for
> this option in the interest of completeness.
>
>
> Don Armstrong
>
> 1: http://cvs.debian.org/webwml/english/vote/2006/vote_004.wml?root=webwml&r1=1.3&r2=1.4
> 2: http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2006/09/msg00228.html
> 3: http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2006/09/msg00235.html
> -- 
> CNN/Reuters: News reports have filtered out early this morning that US
> forces have swooped on an Iraqi Primary School and detained 6th Grade 
> teacher Mohammed Al-Hazar. Sources indicate that, when arrested,
> Al-Hazar was in possession of a ruler, a protractor, a set square and
> a calculator. US President George W Bush argued that this was clear
> and overwhelming evidence that Iraq indeed possessed weapons of maths 
> instruction.
>
> http://www.donarmstrong.com              http://rzlab.ucr.edu
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