[Mageia-dev] Repository question: where do we put non-free+tainted RPMs?

Tue Jul 12 18:04:16 CEST 2011

> Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:16:24 +0200
+> From: Wolfgang Bornath <molch.b at googlemail.com>
+> To: Mageia development mailing-list <mageia-dev at mageia.org>
+> Subject: Re: [Mageia-dev] Repository question: where do we put
+>         non-free+tainted RPMs?
+Message-ID:
+        <CA+h4nj6KtYu8vUFcZ4mWUO08J5ZyxB5XnN2bsSLoqm8R7w6E=w at mail.gmail.com>
+> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
+> 
+> 2011/7/12 andre999 <andr55 at laposte.net>:
+> > Wolfgang Bornath a ?crit :
+> >>
+> >> 2011/7/9 andre999<andr55 at laposte.net>:
+> >>>
+> >>> Wolfgang Bornath a ?crit :
+> >>>>
+> >>>> 2011/7/8 Thorsten van Lil<tvl83 at gmx.de>:
+> >>>>>
+> >>>>> Am 08.07.2011 10:42, schrieb Wolfgang Bornath:
+> >>>>>>
+> >>>>>> 2011/7/8 James Kerr<jim at jkerr82508.free-online.co.uk>:
+> >>>>>>>
+> >>>>>>> This thread has strayed far from the original question, > which 
+could
+> >>>>>>> be
+> >>>>>>> re-stated as:
+> >>>>>>>
+> >>>>>>> Should tainted free software and tainted nonfree software be
+> >>>>>>> commingled
+> >>>>>>> in a
+> >>>>>>> single tainted repository?
+
+...
+
+> >> Besides, tainted is not only about patents, it's also about software
+> >> which is illegal in certain countries (like libdvdcss).
+> >
+> > Ok, a relatively limited application.
+> >
+> > So in all, maybe a handful of packages at most should be in tainted.
+> > So why do we have more than 150 ?
+
+> Sorry, but I do not understand your way of thinking. If a law exists
+> it exists. It does not matter to a law whether it is likely to be
+> enforced. Period.
+> This is not paranoia, it is a matter of mind set. If robbery would not
+> be prosecuted, would you go out and earn your doe by taking away
+> handbags from old ladies? You would not, because it is wrong. For
+> those who are living in countries where patents are valid and accepted
+> by the law, using a patented software is wrong. So you must accept
+> that there are people who would not do it. Telling them how they
+> should think about it is not ours. That's why we have the tainted
+> repo.
+> 
+> -- 
+> wobo
+
++1
+
+I live in the USA, and while I do not personally support the concept of 
+software pantents, I also do not want to violate them as long as they are 
+leagally recognized where I live.
+
+For me, this is not a matter of risk, but one of ethics, morality, and 
+respect. IMHO, the fact that my Countries Society recognizes patents as being 
+legally binding makes it my responsibility to honor them, so I want to know if 
+a software package may be affected by one or more patent(s) before I install it 
+on my computer. If  I know that (for example) package foo is affected by a 
+patent, I can search for the patent holder, and make contact to request 
+permission to ust the software, then abide with their response. This way, I 
+fulfill my obligation to ask permission before using software that is (or may 
+be) affected by some one elses property. I would no more use patented software 
+without permission here in the USA than I would take my neighbor's lawnmower 
+to cut my grass without his permission.
+
+I understand that the following may not be practicable, but I would like all 
+software that is affected by a patent (and perhaps other licensing or copyright 
+restrictions) to be placed in a "restricted" (tainted) repository. Also I 
+would like to see patent (or contact) information in the software package's  
+description to help facilitate my ability to ask permission to use the 
+software. By doing these things, Mageia is doing more to support my ability to 
+live by my personal convictions than to support patent law.
+
+Ernest N. Wilcox Jr.
+Registered Linux User 247790
+