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

[Ahmad Samir]

On 13 July 2011 14:27, nicolas vigier <boklm at mars-attacks.org> wrote:
> On Tue, 12 Jul 2011, 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 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.
>
> I think we should not do that. Because we probably have more useful
> things to do than documenting patents and helping patent holders. And
> because it doesn't help users, on the contrary, it makes it more
> dangerous for them to use the software, because they cannot say they
> didn't know about the patent.
>
>

(However, each package has a URL field, with a link to the upstream
web site, that could be a good starting point for a search for those
who wanna do it).

-- 
Ahmad Samir