-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Debian http://www.debian.org/ Debian applauds Open Groups decision to re-free X source September 24, 1998 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debian applauds Open Groups decision to re-free X source The Debian GNU/Linux distribution [1] would like to applaud the Open Group [2] for its recent decision to restore the license for the X Window System [3] to its previous terms. Earlier this year, the Open Group released its latest update to the X Window System, X11R6.4, under a license incompatible with the Debian Free Software Guidelines [4] (which presaged the much-discussed Open Source Definition [5]), to the general consternation of the free software and Unix communities in general. Historically X has been licensed under very laissez-faire terms, which is largely responsible for its ubiquitous presence in Unix computing. Debian is delighted to see the Open Group return the X Window System to license under which its authors expected it to be distributed. This decision is not only consistent with the open tradition of X's development base, but with the spreading awareness of the advantages of free (or "open source") software. >> Credits Thanks to Branden Robinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> for writing this release. Unix and X Window System are trademarks of the Open Group. Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. Open Source is a certification mark of Software in the Public Interest, Inc. >> Related Links [1] http://www.debian.org/ [2] http://www.opengroup.org/ [3] http://www.opengroup.org/x/xlicense.html [4] http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines [5] http://www.opensource.org/osd.html -- Nils Lohner E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Debian Press Contact Press: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
