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

[blind Pete]

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