On Sat, Jul 24, 2004 at 12:28:24AM -0400, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Matthew Palmer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > If it makes you feel happier, consider the tests to be "proposed amendments > > to the DFSG". Do you feel that the dictator test does not reasonably > > diagnose a non-free licence, or is your objection merely that it's not a > > straightforward restatement of the DFSG? > > Good question. I actually am not convinced the dictator test even > describes non-freeness accurately. I would be okay, for example, if the > license says you must smile when you upload a new version, but since > this has nothing to do with copyright it would fail the Dictator Test.
That's the perfect thing to talk about. Firstly, having no basis in copyright means that a purely copyright licence has no basis for compelling me to do it in and of itself. The only thing that compels me to do it is that otherwise I would lose the other permissions granted. That's basically blackmail -- "do this or I'll sue you". Where does it end, though? If I say you must pet a cat when distributing modifications, is that OK? Probably, unless you don't own (or have access to) a cat, or happen to be alergic to them. What about if I require you to self-flagellate whilst distributing modifications? That's OK, too, if you're a masochist, I guess. Basically, the moment you introduce extra requirements beyond that which a copyright holder is allowed to withold, you're straight into this slippery slope of "look what I can make them do", which is, sooner or later, going to rear up and bite you in the arse. > As you may or may not have noticed, the properties of software I am > interested in seeing Debian support are use, modification, and > redistribution. It bothers me to even use the word "free", because it > tempts people to go overboard and start talking about freedom of speech > and freedom of religion, etc. While I don't *like* the smiles > clause, I don't want Debian to bother with this kind of thing. But only because it doesn't practically affect you. But there are other restrictions in a similar vein which *would* affect you. Are you happy to have those restrictions applied against you, as well? - Matt
