[Mageia-dev] Mirror layout : Why validate software patents ?

[Dale Huckeby]

On Wed, 8 Dec 2010, Ahmad Samir wrote:

> On 8 December 2010 11:39, Wolfgang Bornath <molch.b at googlemail.com> wrote:
>> 2010/12/8 Ahmad Samir <ahmadsamir3891 at gmail.com>:
>>>
>>> For Fedora, being the most legally-challenged distro around, they
>>> don't include any patented software in their official repos at all,
>>> not even mp3 playback is possible in a default install. They even
>>> don't include any non-free stuff, so no nVidia and ATI proprietary
>>> drivers. Fedora users use some 3rd party repos, e.g. RPM Fusion
>>> http://rpmfusion.org/
>>
>> Thx, so it's the same as with Mandriva wrt patented software.
>> What I wanted to say: distributing no patented software at all is not
>> the same as "having no extra repository for patented software", so are
>> Mandriva and Fedora seen as "justifying patent sharks" as andre999
>> descibed it?
>>
>> --
>> wobo
>>
>
> Reality has proven that some users do use patented software, coming
> from a semi-official repo or a 3rd party one doesn't seem to matter;
> i.e. some Mandriva users use PLF (and/or others), some Fedora they use
> RPM Fusion (and/or others), some OpenSuse users use PackMan; and
> Debian has a non-US repo... etc
>
> The whole point is, it's a CYA (cover your a**) situation; just
> because a law suit isn't filed doesn't mean it won't/can't be filed.

Perhaps we should call it cya, then. :)

Dale Huckeby