Many software authors are not as aware of license issues as the average
Debian developer.
Many release pieces of software under a 'no commercial use' license because
they think they might one day be able to sell the software.
At present we can package these, in non-free. The author then has a contact
with a Debian developer, and hopefully a good relationship. Perhaps they get
appreciate comments back about their software.
They will then be more amenable to changing the license.
The alternative is that they get a message from someone they dont know, who
says 'Change your license or else'.
I believe the existence of non-free provides a valuable way for developers to
build relationships with 'almost free' authors, which can be used for the
long term benefit of free software.
John Lines
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