Matthew Garrett writes: > Michael Poole <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Matthew Garrett writes: >>> We've seen frivolous suits against software alleging patent >>> infringement. Since the only way we can protect our users from these is >>> to stop distributing software, should we do so? >> >> I do not propose we do anything to stop frivolous lawsuits. I suggest >> you reread the paragraph you quoted instead of just the last sentence. > > But downloading a piece of software from Debian opens me up to the > possibility of frivolous lawsuits from the copyright holder, something > that did not occur before. How is that not a cost?
Why did it not exist before? Your assumption seems to be a sociopathic copyright owner. I think that is an inappropriate assumption, but sociopaths and frivolous lawsuits are seldom rational. For example, a certain Unix software company has threatened to sue Linux users who never used System V Unix, on the basis that they violated System V Unix copyrights. Debian's "choice" (in quotes since I think no one would seriously propose it) to not distribute System V Unix did nothing to address such threats. Michael Poole -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]