[Mageia-dev] Mirror layout : Why validate software patents ?

Wed Dec 8 09:51:12 CET 2010

2010/12/8 andre999 <andr55 at laposte.net>:
+>
+> 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 ?
+
+Patented software is a reality in some countries. You can't discuss it
+away with logical reason or morale arguments.
+
+> Ok, I think, how many other distros have such repositories.  According to
+> comments on the list : none.
+
+Oh, really? Some (like Mandriva) do not have such a repository because
+they do not distribute such software at all, PLF does that for
+Mandriva. What about Ubuntu? What about Fedora?
+
+> 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 being withdrawn.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.)
+
+A patent pursuit will not be aimed against Mageia because Mageia is a
+french organisation where there are no software patents. But lawsuits
+could be aimed at those mirror maintainers who are runnning their
+mirrors in such countries which allow software patents. There are
+mirrors which are maintained by single private persons (example: me)
+where the maintainer can not take such a risk.
+That there haven't been any pusuits yet does not mean they are not
+possible. As a private person you don't play around with such things
+(aka breaking existing laws).
+
+> No report of anyone wanting to have an official mirror, that wanted such
+> repositories.
+
+2 reasons:
+It is obvious that Mageia has to find a way to supply this sort of software.
+It is obvious that in countries with software patents such software
+can not be distributed on the mirrors.
+
+The logical consequence of having "tainted" software within the usual
+repos would be that there could not be Mageia mirrors in those
+countries at all.
+
+I agree, this could be a possible solution because geographical
+distances do not mean anything in the internet. To draw a real
+picture: who would care if there was no Mageia mirror in the USA while
+there are mirrors all around outside USA (Canada, Mexico, etc.)? This
+way we would also make a statement against the patent laws of such
+countries.
+
+We do not validate anything by acknowledging the facts.
+
+-- 
+wobo
+