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

Thu Jul 14 10:07:35 CEST 2011

on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 02:04
+in the Usenet newsgroup gmane.linux.mageia.devel
+Ernest N. Wilcox Jr. wrote:
+
+>> Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:16:24 +0200
+>> From: Wolfgang Bornath <molch.b at googlemail.com>
+>> To: Mageia development mailing-list <mageia-dev-
+odJJhXpcy38dnm+yROfE0A at public.gmane.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-
+t9WuiTNHXmZ/pmDbDnXM4b3SaDeIAXZp0Fzj8UutsXo at public.gmane.org>:
+>> >>>>>>>
+>> >>>>>>> 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.
+
+Does that lawnmower have wheels on it?  The wheel has been patented.  
+<www.ipmenu.com/archive/AUI_2001100012.pdf>  
+
+I do not live in the USA.  I am not a lawyer.  
+
+If you are interested, I can give you some background about why I 
+laugh at some patents.  
+
+> 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
+
+
+