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

Wed Dec 8 21:10:19 CET 2010

On Wed, 8 Dec 2010, Ahmad Samir wrote:
+
+> 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.
+
+Perhaps we should call it cya, then. :)
+
+Dale Huckeby
+