[Mageia-dev] Mirror layout

Sat Dec 11 13:29:36 CET 2010

Michael scherer a écrit :
+>
+> On Fri, Dec 10, 2010 at 02:26:32PM -0500, andre999 wrote:
+>> Romain d'Alverny a écrit :
+>
+>>>   - for packaging/shipping the distribution
+>>
+>> Evidently easier to package.  (One less consideration.)
+>> As well, the problem doesn't exist in France, so Mageia itself won't
+>> be a target.
+>
+> This is a over simplification.
+> PLF is not only for patented softwares, but also for softwares that
+> have others issues ( DMCA, copyright claim, etc ).
+> So from a packaging point of view, we would still
+> have a separate repository, so the consideration would
+> likely still exist.
+
+As for copyrighted material, I think we should only distribute material 
+that has a licence permitting redistribution, or for which we have 
+special permission to redistribute.
+As for other legally constrained packages, PLF is a reasonable solution.
+
+But I don't see the utility of being worried about patent-constrained 
+software at this point, since it hasn't, to the best of my knowledge, 
+impacted mirrors or end-users.
+
+BTW, industry publications here in Canada have a lot of articles about 
+legal issues affecting software, and often discuss the situation in the 
+U.S.  On which I base much of my opinions.
+
+>>>   - for using it.
+>>
+>> It doesn't seem that any individual user has been pursued for using
+>> unauthorised patent-affected software.
+>> So using patent-affected software is a non-issue for users.
+>> (Unless they choose to avoid such software, of course.)
+>
+> We should not only take care of individual users, companies can also use
+> a linux distribution. See how debian is used in many embedded product, or Fedora
+> for that matter.
+> So no, this is not a non-issue for users, because there is more than
+> "individual users" in the users group.
+
+Good.  Remove "individual", and my statement still stands.
+
+Note that there is a difference between
+- using or distributing software which may use patented technology, and 
+- developing or selling such software for a profit.
+
+The former is little affected by patent claims in the U.S., but the 
+latter has resulted in some spectacular cases.
+Like the recent case where a Texas court awarded a smalll canadian 
+company over 200 million dollars for patent infringement claimed in 
+Microsoft word, which Microsoft is appealing.
+Note that Ms-word is not exactly free.
+(It is a U.S. patent : Canada doesn't issue software patents.)
+
+Also note that end users, be they individuals or companies, have a 
+choice of what software they install and use.
+In addition to what they integrate into their products to sell.
+So they will have the opportunity to react appropriately should problems 
+arise.
+
+As will Mageia.
+
+- André
+