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Re: Debian and FSF docs (was: Man pages for gcc)

From "Andrew M.A. Cater" <amacater@einval.com>
Newsgroups linux.debian.user
Subject Re: Debian and FSF docs (was: Man pages for gcc)
Date 2021-12-10 18:20 +0100
Message-ID <DsRIU-FR-23@gated-at.bofh.it> (permalink)
References <Deqfw-4JP-17@gated-at.bofh.it> <Deqpb-4Nv-1@gated-at.bofh.it> <DeqIx-4Ux-5@gated-at.bofh.it> <DsMzw-5Ul-5@gated-at.bofh.it>
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On Fri, Dec 10, 2021 at 12:41:01PM +0100, Andrei POPESCU wrote:
> On Du, 31 oct 21, 17:37:10, Stefan Monnier wrote:
> > > This is because GNU releases their documentation under a different license
> > > than their source code.  And Debian considers the GNU documentation
> > > license to be non-free (rightly so, because it prohibits distributing
> > > modified versions).
> > 
> > FWIW, it's not nearly as clear cut as you make it sound, because it does
> > not prevent distribution of all modified versions.
> > 
> > It does require one particular section to be kept unmodified (IIRC it's
> > the section that promotes the FSF philosophy), but the bulk is Free in
> > the usual sense of allowing redistribution of modified versions.
> 
> As far as I understand[1] further modifications can add other invariant 
> sections as well and humans have demonstrated a remarkable capacity of 
> abusing such loopholes.
>  
> > I find this state of affair rather sad and am disappointed by both
> > Debian and the FSF for not finding a compromise.  It ends up promoting
> > the use of the non-free repository, which I think neither project wants.
> 

It's _not_ a Debian problem in one sense: it's the FSF's licence. Or we 
could say "it's in non-free - not part of Debian - so we really don't care
and if it breaks, well so what"

> At the very least Debian could split non-free into sections or add more 
> areas (non-free firmware being another obvious candidate for splitting 
> out).
> 

Do wait a little while and there may well ba e GR to that effect.

All the very best, as ever,

Andy CAter


> [1] https://wiki.debian.org/GFDLPositionStatement
> 
> Kind regards,
> Andrei
> -- 
> http://wiki.debian.org/FAQsFromDebianUser

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Man pages for gcc "Paul M. Foster" <paulf@quillandmouse.com> - 2021-10-31 22:10 +0100
  Re: Man pages for gcc Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org> - 2021-10-31 22:20 +0100
    Debian and FSF docs (was: Man pages for gcc) Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> - 2021-10-31 22:40 +0100
      Re: Debian and FSF docs (was: Man pages for gcc) Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-12-10 12:50 +0100
        Re: Debian and FSF docs (was: Man pages for gcc) "Andrew M.A. Cater" <amacater@einval.com> - 2021-12-10 18:20 +0100
          Re: Debian and FSF docs (was: Man pages for gcc) Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-12-10 18:40 +0100
          Re: Debian and FSF docs Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> - 2021-12-10 19:10 +0100
            Re: Debian and FSF docs Nicholas Geovanis <nickgeovanis@gmail.com> - 2021-12-11 01:30 +0100
              Re: Debian and FSF docs Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> - 2021-12-11 01:50 +0100
                Re: Debian and FSF docs Nicholas Geovanis <nickgeovanis@gmail.com> - 2021-12-11 05:20 +0100
                Re: Debian and FSF docs <tomas@tuxteam.de> - 2021-12-11 08:50 +0100
                Re: Debian and FSF docs Nicholas Geovanis <nickgeovanis@gmail.com> - 2021-12-11 16:50 +0100
                Re: Debian and FSF docs tomas@tuxteam.de - 2021-12-11 19:10 +0100
  Re: Man pages for gcc Nicholas Geovanis <nickgeovanis@gmail.com> - 2021-10-31 22:30 +0100
    Re: Man pages for gcc Nate Bargmann <n0nb@n0nb.us> - 2021-10-31 23:10 +0100
      Re: Man pages for gcc Nicholas Geovanis <nickgeovanis@gmail.com> - 2021-11-01 16:10 +0100
  Re: Man pages for gcc Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> - 2021-10-31 22:40 +0100
  Re: Man pages for gcc Emanuel Berg <moasenwood@zoho.eu> - 2021-11-07 08:10 +0100
    Re: Man pages for gcc Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-12-10 12:30 +0100

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