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

Wed Dec 8 13:00:23 CET 2010

On 8 December 2010 11:39, Wolfgang Bornath <molch.b at googlemail.com> wrote:
+> 2010/12/8 Ahmad Samir <ahmadsamir3891 at gmail.com>:
+>>
+>> For Fedora, being the most legally-challenged distro around, they
+>> don't include any patented software in their official repos at all,
+>> not even mp3 playback is possible in a default install. They even
+>> don't include any non-free stuff, so no nVidia and ATI proprietary
+>> drivers. Fedora users use some 3rd party repos, e.g. RPM Fusion
+>> http://rpmfusion.org/
+>
+> Thx, so it's the same as with Mandriva wrt patented software.
+> What I wanted to say: distributing no patented software at all is not
+> the same as "having no extra repository for patented software", so are
+> Mandriva and Fedora seen as "justifying patent sharks" as andre999
+> descibed it?
+>
+> --
+> wobo
+>
+
+Reality has proven that some users do use patented software, coming
+from a semi-official repo or a 3rd party one doesn't seem to matter;
+i.e. some Mandriva users use PLF (and/or others), some Fedora they use
+RPM Fusion (and/or others), some OpenSuse users use PackMan; and
+Debian has a non-US repo... etc
+
+The whole point is, it's a CYA (cover your a**) situation; just
+because a law suit isn't filed doesn't mean it won't/can't be filed.
+
+-- 
+Ahmad Samir
+