On Thu, 2005-05-12 at 11:14 -0500, Adam M wrote: > On 5/12/05, Kaare Hviid <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Thu, 2005-05-12 at 01:13 -0500, Adam M wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > > > I have compiled a list of packages in non-free that can be included in > > > Amd64's non-free. A few days ago I have posted the entire list of good > > > and bad packages on debian-devel[1]. They can also be found at, > > > > > > http://people.debian.org/~adamm/non-free/ > > > > > > bad.txt - not distributable > > > good.txt - distributable > > > > > > I think non-free is important to be part of Amd64 port for Sarge due > > > to a few important packages like, like RFCs and the nvidia drivers. > > > > > > Now that I have reviewed these licenses, will Amd64 port carry > > > non-free in Sarge? > > > > > > - Adam > > > > I just finished my own review of the non-free packages. > > Please don't misunderstand me - I'm not trying to tell you what to > > do, I just thought I'd give it a shot and have a look at the non-free > > licenses. Also, I'm by no means a lawyer, nor am I a DD - I'm just a > > layman. I've used the Packages list of a current i386 *sarge* box, and > > had invaluable help from http://nonfree.alioth.debian.org/. My criteria > > I didn't use nonfree.alioth.debian.org and I didn't use Packages. I > used current Sources and read the dreaded debian/*copyright files from > each of the source packages. It might have been better if you raised > some questions about why I put something in good.txt and other stuff > in bad.txt and then point to relevant sections of the licenses I > looked at [1]. Trying to match the binary<->source can be tricky.
I wasn't aware that you had done a proper audit of the licenses when I embarked on looking at it. Once finished, I found your mail, and rather than throwing away my own list, I replied you, thinking someone might want a second opinion. I have also read each of the dreaded debian/copyright files, (which nonfree.alioth.debian.org links to) and have tried to find further information when it was lacking. Our findings match up pretty good anyway, with the exception of libforms-doc (that I find clearly non-distributable), and moria and trn4 (where I didn't find anything compelling hindering distribution). > Anyway, I just want to look at the nvidia package where you said, > > > "Notwithstanding the foregoing terms of > > Section 2.1.1, SOFTWARE designed exclusively for use on the > > Linux operating system may be copied and redistributed, provided > > that the binary files thereof are not modified in any way > > (except for unzipping of compressed files)." Debian, and > > apparently Ubuntu, have special permission for distributing. > > The intent is probably only to deny OEMs to rebundle the stuff > > without nVidia's permission. > > What I think nVidia does is use the same license for distribution for > Linux, Windows and Mac but they have an exception for Linux > distributions that allow redistribution of their binary drivers. The > binary drivers themselves are not permitted to be modified (how? with > a hex editor? :). GPLed stuff of course can be modified. I found it unclear if distributing it in a .deb was allowed, as it could be seen as of a form of modification beyond unzipping of compressed files. As such, I also marked it with a "?", denoting that I couldn't tell if it was "good" or "bad". Given nVidia's presence in the Linux desktop market, I'd be surprised if they wouldn't *promote* distribution of ready-to-go driver packages for the Debian amd64 sarge port. Didn't they even sponsor Gentoo with amd64 hardware to get going? > If nothing else, I think the nVidia drivers and the RFCs must be > distributed by Amd64 for Sarge if the port is going to have some > penetration into the destrop market. If there is no nvidia drivers, > people will try to install them with the nvidia installer and butcher > their installations. They will then complain that Amd64 Sarge is crap > because they cannot even get their FX6666 card to work! I certainly agree - the number of consumer desktops with the amd64 nVidia combination is staggering to the brink of almost becoming synonymous in the consumer electronics shops. -ukh -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]