Ian Jackson writes ("Re: Can we serve GFDL documentation (e.g. gcc-7-doc) on
manpages.d.o?"):
> I haven't looked at gcc-7-doc, but a GFDL-licenced manpage would be
> legally serveable if there is no front cover text and no back cover
> text and no invariant sections. But such a manpage would be
> DFSG-free, so ought to be in main, surely ?
To expand on this:
A cover text is IMO no good because
If you publish printed copies (or copies in media that commonly have
printed covers) of the Document
I think arguably the HTML for a long manpage on a manpage website is
"media that commonly have printed covers". It definitely would be if
manpages.d.o provided pdf outputs (which it might do in the future).
And that means that the front cover text must be included. But it is
not. I looked at the GCC manpage and it does have a front cover text,
"A GNU Manual", but it does not start with that text.
Of course maybe you disagree about "media that commonly have printed
covers" in which case maybe you'd have to just limit any future pdf
feature to properly-free manpages.
Also, in general, there is no way to easily tell what the reason is
for something being in non-free. You'd have to invent some kind of
coding or whitelist system.
IMO this is a swamp.
Ian.
--
Ian Jackson <ijack...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> These opinions are my own.
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