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

Tue Mar 15 23:58:16 CET 2011

Tux99 a écrit :
+>
+> I was looking at Mandriva non-free SRPM directory since Mageia doesn't have
+> much in non-free yet.
+> I haven't actually counted if the majority has source or not, so you might
+> be right, but we are digressing here because like I said in the first post
+> the question here in this thread is about a package that has code with a
+> non-free license but is open source (and is 'tainted').
+>
+> To quote my initial mail:
+> "... 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)."
+>
+> To complicate matters further this package will have dependencies to some
+> other 'tainted' packages, which also a reason why 'tainted' seems more
+> appropiate for this specifica package at least.
+
+What do you mean by "open source but not a FOSS license" ?
+Normally "open source" means that it is licensed to be freely 
+redistributed (without royalties), with available source code.
+Public domain software with available source code, although not having a 
+FOSS license, is also considered free.
+
+As for the point about potential patent claims, in the U.S. (the usual 
+example), I don't know of any example of a mirror of an open source 
+distro that has had problems with software patent claims.
+In the U.S., software patent claims are made against those who make 
+money from the software, and few such cases succeed.  No money is to be 
+made by pursuing those who give away software for free.
+Ubuntu, for example, has many mirrors in the U.S. carrying potentially 
+patent-threatened software, without problems.
+
+I would suggest that if the software in question is _really_ open 
+source, put it in "core".  If not, put it in "non-free".
+If eventually it becomes _directly_ threatened by software patent 
+claims, _then_ consider transfering it to another repository.
+
+(Besides the practical question of only responding to a potential threat 
+when really needed, if you don't consider software patents legitimate, 
+there is nothing inherently wrong with the software anyway.  As long as 
+it works.
+So why call it "tainted".)
+
+my 2 cents :)
+-- 
+André
+