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diff --git a/zarb-ml/mageia-dev/20101208/001653.html b/zarb-ml/mageia-dev/20101208/001653.html new file mode 100644 index 000000000..82e4e0548 --- /dev/null +++ b/zarb-ml/mageia-dev/20101208/001653.html @@ -0,0 +1,107 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"> +<HTML> + <HEAD> + <TITLE> [Mageia-dev] Mirror layout : Why validate software patents ? + </TITLE> + <LINK REL="Index" HREF="index.html" > + <LINK REL="made" HREF="mailto:mageia-dev%40mageia.org?Subject=Re%3A%20%5BMageia-dev%5D%20%20Mirror%20layout%20%3A%20Why%20validate%20software%20patents%20%3F&In-Reply-To=%3C4CFF1486.3000302%40laposte.net%3E"> + <META NAME="robots" CONTENT="index,nofollow"> + <META http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> + <LINK REL="Previous" HREF="001652.html"> + <LINK REL="Next" HREF="001654.html"> + </HEAD> + <BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> + <H1>[Mageia-dev] Mirror layout : Why validate software patents ?</H1> + <B>andre999</B> + <A HREF="mailto:mageia-dev%40mageia.org?Subject=Re%3A%20%5BMageia-dev%5D%20%20Mirror%20layout%20%3A%20Why%20validate%20software%20patents%20%3F&In-Reply-To=%3C4CFF1486.3000302%40laposte.net%3E" + TITLE="[Mageia-dev] Mirror layout : Why validate software patents ?">andr55 at laposte.net + </A><BR> + <I>Wed Dec 8 06:15:50 CET 2010</I> + <P><UL> + <LI>Previous message: <A HREF="001652.html">[Mageia-dev] Mirror layout, round two +</A></li> + <LI>Next message: <A HREF="001654.html">[Mageia-dev] Mirror layout : Why validate software patents ? +</A></li> + <LI> <B>Messages sorted by:</B> + <a href="date.html#1653">[ date ]</a> + <a href="thread.html#1653">[ thread ]</a> + <a href="subject.html#1653">[ subject ]</a> + <a href="author.html#1653">[ author ]</a> + </LI> + </UL> + <HR> +<!--beginarticle--> +<PRE>We have a proposal to add an optional set of respositories for packages +subject to software patents - or at least, seem to be at risk of civil +pursuits in some countries, based on supposed violation of software patents. + +As we know, the suggested name for these repositories is "tainted". +Some suggested that a negative name would denigrate the quality of the +software contained, so another name should be chosen. Myself included. + +Then some bright individual suggested that this was equivalent to +debating the colour to paint a bike shed. + +Which got me thinking. + +Suppose some company claimed a patent against the rpm data format. +(Presumably targeting RedHat.) +So we transfer all rpm-related programs (rpdrake, urpmi, etc) into the +"tainted" repository. + +But wait a minute ! + +By presenting a special set of repositories for patent-affected +software, we could be seen as justifying these patent sharks. +In their minds, why else would be accommodate them ? + +Ok, I think, how many other distros have such repositories. According +to comments on the list : none. +So why are we breaking this ground for the patent sharks ? +How many distros have been sued for patent violation ? +Besides the SCO/Novell fiasco, it seems none. +How many distro mirror sites have been affected by carrying +patent-threatened software ? +To my knowledge : none. +And what happens if there is a patent pursuit against Mageia or it's +mirrors ? +Even if we have a separate repository, the package in question might end +up being withdrawn. But it seems doubtful that one would want to +withdraw all potentially threatened packages. +(That would be a big victory for patent sharks.) + +Thinking further, what reaction have we from potential mirror sites ? +One such site administrator expressed opposition to the extra complexity +of the optional nature of these repositories. +No report of anyone wanting to have an official mirror, that wanted such +repositories. +So we don't seem to have any practical reason to have such a repository. + +So the question remains : Why validate software patents ? + +Something to consider. + +- André +</PRE> + + +<!--endarticle--> + <HR> + <P><UL> + <!--threads--> + <LI>Previous message: <A HREF="001652.html">[Mageia-dev] Mirror layout, round two +</A></li> + <LI>Next message: <A HREF="001654.html">[Mageia-dev] Mirror layout : Why validate software patents ? +</A></li> + <LI> <B>Messages sorted by:</B> + <a href="date.html#1653">[ date ]</a> + <a href="thread.html#1653">[ thread ]</a> + <a href="subject.html#1653">[ subject ]</a> + <a href="author.html#1653">[ author ]</a> + </LI> + </UL> + +<hr> +<a href="https://www.mageia.org/mailman/listinfo/mageia-dev">More information about the Mageia-dev +mailing list</a><br> +</body></html> |