I hereby propose the following motion and call for a vote. WHEREAS
1. ndiswrapper's purpose is to allow non-free drivers to be used. 2. While there may be cases where ndiswrapper can be used with a DFSG-free driver, these are exceptional. 3. The Committee is by and large satisfied with the intent behind the language in the Policy Manual regarding the distinction between non-free and contrib. 4. The Committee does not wish to overturn or change established political policy about the distinction between main and contrib, and does not wish to usurp the political authority of the Project Leader. 5. The Committee's reading of the current Policy Manual wording is that ndiswrapper falls fairly clearly into the area currently defined for `contrib'. 6. However, the language in the Policy Manual is somewhat unclear and ambiguous, and by some readings inconsistent. THE COMMITTEE CONCLUDES THAT 6. ndiswrapper belongs in contrib. 7. References to `package outside of main', `packages which are not in our archive at all', etc., in the relevant part of the Policy Manual, should be changed to refer to `programs' or `software'. 8. The policy manual should be clarified to make it clear that free software to talk to non-free software over a network can remain in main. In our opinion the relevant principle is that: (i) If the user or administrator who is in charge of the Debian installation would have to adopt non-free software X to make sensible use free software Y, then Y goes in contrib. (ii) However, if free software Y is used by the user or administrator of the Debian system to cope to with someone else's use of non-free software X on another system not under their control, then Y goes in main. AND THE COMMITTEE THEREFORE REQUESTS AS FOLLOWS 9. ftpmasters and the ndiswrapper maintainers should cooperate to move nsidwrapper to contrib. (If the required 3:1 supermajority is required, the ftpmasters and ndiswrapper maintainers are hereby required to do so.) 10. The Policy Manual maintainers should take steps to adjust the language regarding main and contrib to clarify and improve it. The Maintainers should take our opinion in paragraphs 7 and 8 as advisory; they should also have regard to opinions from the Leader about the correct effect. Ian. [ -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
