On Fri, Apr 30, 2004 at 11:06:35PM -0400, Michael Poole wrote: > Having said that, though, I will not argue further over the definition > of software. You will not change my mind, and I doubt I will change > yours. I also do not think it is so important: As long as the DFSG > refers to packaged/distributed data in general, whether certain bits > are software or not is a moot question.
I agree; the SC as it is now (post GR) makes this clear, regardless of whether it did before. > > I've seen several people, particularly on debian-legal, suggest that > > documentation should have different standards of freedom than programs, > > requests for a "DFDG", and so on. (If I remember correctly, RMS was > > among them.) I've yet to see any interesting arguments in favor of this. > > > > If you have one, I'd like to hear it. > > Not documentation, but similar: > > I agree that important parts of packages need the same freedoms that > Debian enumerates in the DFSG; although knowing computer people, if > that were the standard, there would be many arguments/flame wars over > what is "important." If freedoms should apply equally to all parts, > though, we should file a bug against the desktop-base package > regarding a non-free file in it. Specifically, > /usr/share/pixmaps/debian-official-logo-small.png. > > Debian significantly restricts use (not just modification or > redistribution) of what is in that file. There is no question that > the rules for the official use logo fail the DFSG. The only way I can > see for Debian to follow its SC is to not include its own official use > logo. > > Silly? I think so, but I am trying to apply your argument to a place > you might not have thought of. On the contrary: I've taken (a miniscule) part in discussions about the Official Use logo in the past. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2003/debian-legal-200310/msg00081.html The Official Use logo is not under DFSG-free terms, and by my understanding, it isn't intended to be. It is not allowed in the Debian archive. I don't believe this is silly, bizarre or hypocritical. debian-legal: Have there been any new conclusions about the Official Use logo that I'm forgetting, or should a bug be filed against desktop-base? -- Glenn Maynard
