Is Debian a common carrier? Was: package rejection

[Bruce Perens]

Andrew Suffield wrote:
Also, in much of the civilised world, once you start doing this you
suddenly acquire a legal responsibility to do it *right*, which you
wouldn't have had if you hadn't tried to do it.
 

It's more complicated than that. I think what you are talking about is 
the fact that a common carrier is not responsible for the content that 
it carries. However, if you edit the content you aren't acting as a 
common carrier and then you become responsible for it. Some internet 
providers attempt to act as common carriers, but depending on the 
context courts have ruled that they are not.

I don't think we have the slightest chance of proving to any court that 
Debian is a common carrier, given the several inches of policy manual 
that specify the nature of the content, etc.

   Thanks
   Bruce