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

Mon Mar 14 23:28:00 CET 2011

+
+Quote: Michael Scherer wrote on Mon, 14 March 2011 21:49
+
+> Le dimanche 13 mars 2011 à 21:09 +0100, Samuel Verschelde a écrit :
+> > Le dimanche 13 mars 2011 21:01:15, Thomas Backlund a écrit :
+> > > sön 2011-03-13 klockan 21:55 +0200 skrev Tux99:
+> > > > During the review with my mentor Anssi of one of the
+> > > > packages I'm working
+> > > > on, the question came up what the appropriate repository
+> > > > for a package is
+> > > > that's both non-free (open source but not a FOSS license)
+> > > > and tainted
+> > > > (contains sw. that is covered by patents in some parts of
+> > > > the world).
+> > > > 
+> > > > Should a non-free+tainted package go in tainted, i.e. is
+> > > > the tainted repo
+> > > > for all tainted packages, both free and non-free
+> > > 
+> > > tainted, as thats a "bigger" issue than nonfree
+> > > 
+> > > --
+> > > Thomas
+> > 
+> > I would have said the opposite, so that using core + tainted you're
+> > sure to 
+> > get free software :)
+> 
+> The same.
+> 
+> Ie, a non-free may have more stringent distribution requirements than
+> a
+> free software. 
+
+I don't understand what you mean, the packages in 'non-free' are being
+distributed the same way as the ones in 'core' or 'tainted', i.e. on all
+mirrors and partially on ISOs/CDs/DVDs, otherwise we wouldn't even be able
+to include them in the repos at all.
+
+The issue with 'non-free' is generally one of limitations on the use of the
+software and/or source code not normally of distribution, in Mandriva the
+software with distribution restrictions normally ends up in 'restricted'
+not in 'non-free'.
+
+On the other hand a 'tainted+non-free' package has the bigger issue of
+containing patent issues (at least for some countries) so I would assume
+that it's a lot more important to keep 'tainted' packages clearly separate
+for people or mirrors that don't want to risk breaking patent laws in the
+affected countries.
+
+If we put 'tainted+non-free' software in 'non-free' then it will be very
+hard for a normal user or mirror admin to recognize it as being a
+potential patent liability.
+
+-- 
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+