Re: [GNU-linux-libre] How do you handle references to non-free softwarein public forums?

[Karl Goetz]

On Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:25:59 -0400
Brett Smith <address@hidden> wrote:

> On 07/07/2011 11:03 PM, Karl Goetz wrote:
> > Whats the difference between proprietary and NON-FSDG? I don't see
> > one existing (I've always understood that in FSF parlance
> > proprietary == non-free == non-fsdg).
> 
> Proprietary == it doesn't meet the Free Software Definition.
> 
> Non-FSDG == it's not suitable for inclusion under the Free System
> Distribution Guidelines.
> 
> Non-FSDG is a superset of proprietary.  All proprietary software is
> non-FSDG software, obviously.  But there's plenty of free software
> that's non-FSDG, too.  bnetd is a good example; it's free software,
> but it's not really appropriate for inclusion in a free distro, since
> it's only immediately useful in conjunction with proprietary software.

thanks for that clarification.

kk

> Regular discussions promoting nonfree software on a free distro's
> forums can be cause for concern, because they might give readers the
> wrong idea about what the distro is about.  Discussions about
> free-but-non-FSDG software are a little different, and it really all
> comes down to context.  If someone simply recommends, "Use this
> program," it's worthwhile to point out why the program isn't already
> in the distribution.  If the conversation is along the lines of
> "What's the right way to fix the FSDG bugs in this free software?"
> that's great and absolutely something we want to encourage.
> 


-- 
Karl Goetz, (Kamping_Kaiser / VK5FOSS)
Debian contributor / gNewSense Maintainer
http://www.kgoetz.id.au
No, I won't join your social networking group

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