Postscript Printer Description files (PPD) are typically written by the manufacturer of the printer. They describe the unique features of that printer and are (sorta) necessary for the printer to be used effectively. The manufacturers aren't likely to put restrictive copyrights on them. Apple includes the vendor's PPD files in their OS-X distribution without changing the rights. Copyright remains with the printer manufacturer. If they are willing to let Apple use them, they should be willing to let Mandrake use them too. (Of course, in matters of law, it always pays to check.)
Rick > From: Jeroen Diederen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Fri, 07 Jun 2002 00:22:14 +0200 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Appletalk- Laserwriter printers and utility in upcomingMandrake > > On 7/6/02 00:03, "Stew Benedict" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> >> On Thu, 6 Jun 2002, Jeroen Diederen wrote: >> >>> Hi all there ! >>> >>> I succeeded in embedding my Apple Laserwriter 320 into the CUPS netatalk >>> daemon. This is what I did: >>> >>> I downloaded a newly developed pap backend script, written by Rainer >>> Ruprechtsberger, located at http://www.oeh.uni-linz.ac.at/~rupi/pap . >>> >>> I moved the file to /usr/lib/cups/backend and made it executable. >>> >>> Then I copied the Laserwriter 320 ppd file from my OSX system >>> (/Library/Printers/PPDs/Contents/Resources/en.lproj/LaserWriter 320) to >>> /usr/share/cups/model and named it aplw3201.ppd. I restarted cups and added >>> a new printer with the web utility. The Laserprinter is recognised now >>> automatically. The rest is easy...... >>> >>> So Stew, it would be fantastic to include this in the following Mandrake, >>> don't you think ? You could add all Apple printer models from the OSX >>> library and copy them into the /usr/share/cups/model directory. You can then >>> also add the pap backend script in the netatalk package, which automatically >>> detects the connected Appletalk printer. >>> >> >> I can add that script, barring any licensing issues, but I can't be taking >> OS/X stuff and adding it to Mandrake. (don't have OS/X anyway) >> >> I maintian netatalk, so I'll check out the script. >> >> Stew Benedict > > I think you can add this ppd file, look here: > > *PPD-Adobe: "4.2" > *% Adobe Systems PostScript(R) Printer Description File > *% Copyright 1987-1996 Adobe Systems Incorporated and > *% Apple Computer Incorporated. > *% All Rights Reserved. > *% Permission is granted for redistribution of this file as > *% long as this copyright notice is intact and the contents > *% of the file is not altered in any way from its original form. > *% End of Copyright statement > > It is the beginning of the laserwriter 320 file...interested ? > ------------------------------------------ > Best regards, > > Jeroen Diederen > http://diederen.demon.nl > > >
