Messages in this thread | | | Date | Fri, 8 Apr 2005 20:01:10 +0200 | From | Adrian Bunk <> | Subject | Re: non-free firmware in kernel modules, aggregation and unclear copyright notice. |
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On Fri, Apr 08, 2005 at 07:42:51PM +0200, Josselin Mouette wrote: > Le vendredi 08 avril 2005 à 19:34 +0200, Adrian Bunk a écrit : > > > When there are several possible interpretations, you have to pick up the > > > more conservative one, as it's not up to us to make the interpretation, > > > but to a court. > > > > If Debian was at least consistent. > > > > Why has Debian a much more liberal interpretation of MP3 patent issues > > than RedHat? > > Because we already know that patents on MP3 decoders are not > enforceable. Furthermore, the holders of these patents have repeatedly
How do you know the patents aren't enforceable?
> stated they won't ask for fees on MP3 decoders.
http://www.mp3licensing.com/royalty/index.html
talks about 0.75 Dollar for a decoder.
> > How do you install Debian on a harddisk behind a SCSI controller who's > > driver was removed from the Debian kernels due to it's firmware? > > Which SCSI controller are you talking about?
Quoting README.Debian of the Debian kernel sources:
<-- snip -->
* QLA2XXX firmware, driver disabled: . drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/*_fw.c
<-- snip -->
There are a few other SCSI controllers where even the Debian kernel sources still ship both the drivers and the firmware. I do not claim to understand the latter...
> > > Being careless in the definition of "free software" is a real disservice > > > to users. It makes them rely on e.g. non-free documentation for everyday > > > use. > > >... > > > > Documentation is "software"? > > Sure.
Every book in my book shelf is software?
That doesn't match how people outside of Debian use the word "software".
> > Non-free documentation is better than no documentation. > > > > Non-free software has several problems, but some of them like the right > > to do modifications are less important for documentation, since e.g. > > fixes for security bugs are not an issue. > > > > Removing the available documentation without an equal replacement is a > > real disserve for your users. > > GFDL documentation will still be available in the non-free archive.
Assuming you have an online connection and a friend told you how to manually edit your /etc/apt/sources.list for non-free.
But where's the documentation if you don't have an online connection but only the dozen binary CDs of Debian?
cu Adrian
--
"Is there not promise of rain?" Ling Tan asked suddenly out of the darkness. There had been need of rain for many days. "Only a promise," Lao Er said. Pearl S. Buck - Dragon Seed
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