Hamish Moffatt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >> > Why? How does it benefit Debian if our users have to obtain firmware >> > from somewhere else to make their hardware work? How does it benefit >> > freedom if we imply that hardware with on-chip firmware is preferable? >> >> The DFSG says that's the wrong question to ask. The question to ask > > Right, but how's that relevant when we're discussing whether the DFSG is > reasonable to apply to firmware? > > Wrong question or not, why don't you answer the question?
It benefits freedom if we give special things to hardware manufacturers that distribute free software: things like bugfixes, support, and free distribution resources. What is missing here is any statement of why this looser standard should not simply apply to *all* software. In other words, "How does it benefit Debian if our users have to get their non-free documentation reader from somewhere else? Shouldn't we distribute it ourselves?" What I'm looking for is: "XXX is the difference between firmware and software, which is a difference in the things themselves and not just in this or that changable social fact about the nasty practices of the authors, and which logically implies a difference in what kinds of freedom are useful." Thomas -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
