On Wed, Jul 16, 2003 at 06:46:15PM +0000, Brian M. Carlson wrote:
> Patented software does not have to be patent-encumbered (for example, we
> have many programs and libraries in both main and non-US/main that use
> CAST5 [0], which is patented). Patent-encumbered software would use
> things like LZW, which is non-free because of the licensing that is
> required to use it. CAST5's RFC [0] states:
>
> The CAST-128 cipher described in this document is available worldwide
> on a royalty-free basis for commercial and non-commercial uses.
>
>
> I'd further point out that packages relegated to non-US purely because
> of US patents are not usable in the US, which is something that
> traditionally non-US/main has been. Also, for example, if LZW had
> just a year left to expire on it in the US, instead of in Germany, would
> we relegate it to non-US/main? I hope not.
Would the the descriptions be correct if the following patch was
applied?
*** packages.wml.~1.52.~ Tue Jul 8 17:25:45 2003
--- packages.wml Thu Jul 17 11:34:47 2003
***************
*** 27,34 ****
restricting use or redistribution of the software.</dd>
<dt><em>Non-US/Main</em></em></dt>
<dd>Packages in this area are free themselves but cannot be
! stored on a server in the U.S. because they are encumbered by
! patent issues.</dd>
<dt><em>Non-US/Non-Free</em></dt>
<dd>Packages in this area have some onerous license condition
restricting use or redistribution of the software. They cannot
--- 27,33 ----
restricting use or redistribution of the software.</dd>
<dt><em>Non-US/Main</em></em></dt>
<dd>Packages in this area are free themselves but cannot be
! exported from a server in the U.S.</dd>
<dt><em>Non-US/Non-Free</em></dt>
<dd>Packages in this area have some onerous license condition
restricting use or redistribution of the software. They cannot
--
Matt Kraai [EMAIL PROTECTED] Debian GNU/Linux
