I'd like to propose the following option to the current GR process. As I will (starting late sunday PDT) be away for a week and a few days at Burning Man,[i] I will be unable to appropriately respond to corrections and suggested amendments during that time. However, I will do so immediately at my return.
====================================================================== The Free Software movement is about enabling users to modify the works that they use on their computer; about giving users the same information that copyright holders and upstream developers have. As such, a critical part of the Free Software movement is the availability of source (that is, the form of the work that a copyright holder or developer would use to actually modify the work) to users. This makes sure that users are not held hostage by the whims (or lack of interest or financial incentive) of upstreams and copyright holders. Different types of works have different forms of source. For some works, the preferred form for modification may not actually be digitally transferable.[1] For others, the form that originally was preferred may have been destroyed at some point in time, and is no longer available to anyone. However, to the greatest extent possible,[2] the availability of source code to users is a critical aspect of having the freedom to modify the software that is running upon ones computer. Recognizing this, the Debian Project: A. Reaffirms that programmatic works distributed in the Debian system (IE, in main) must be 100% Free Software, regardless of whether the work is designed to run on the CPU, a subsidiary processing unit, or by some other form of execution. That is, works must include the form that the copyright holder or upstream developer would actually use for modification. B. Strongly recommends that all non-programmatic works distribute the form that the copyright holder or upstream developer would actually use for modification. Such forms need not be distributed in the orig.tar.gz (unless required by license) but should be made available on upstream websites and/or using Debian project resources. C. Reaffirms its continued support of users whose hardware (or software) requires works which are not freely licensed or whose source is not available by making such works available in non-free and providing project resources to the extent that Debian is capable of doing so. D. Requests that vendors of hardware, even those whose firmware is not loaded by the operating system, provide the prefered form for modification so that purchasers of their hardware are can exercise their freedom to modify the functioning of their hardware. 1: Consider film negatives, or magnetic tape in the case of audio recordings. 2: Here it must be emphasized that we refer to "technically possible" or "possible for some party" as opposed to "legally possible for Debian". We also assume digital distribution, and do not attempt to require the distribution of physical objects. ======================================================================= Obvious points for discussion: 1. I would really like to be able to commit to some form of installation support for users who need to be able to use non-free firmware to install their system; some more work is needed in d-i land, though to make sure that this is separated out and that it's trivial to have a Free system, and know that what you're installing/using/distributing is Free Software. 2. Distributing the huge source forms for non-programmatic works is going to be a problem. I don't think they're needed in the orig.tar.gz, because that would needlessly bloat the archive, and it's probably not required unless the works are copylefted. However, we should make an effort to encourage upstreams to make them available and likewise make them available to our users. [Even if it's just in people.debian.org/~you/ or similar and mentioned in the copyright file, it'd be a good step.] 3. If there is substantial objection to D, I will probably remove it; however firmware, whether we happen to distribute it or not, is a hazard to user's freedom to modify the functioning of their computers. 4. Finally, if in the context of the release of etch, we need to compromise our ideals and accept programmatic works without source, we should do so by specifically exempting them from DFSG 2 for the purpose of releasing etch by a GR which needs to meet the 3:1 requirement instead of attempting to define ourselves into such a position, especially when source code is clearly a desirable thing to have from our users and our perspective. Don Armstrong i: At Big Time; usually somewhere around 9:30 and Hope (outer ring) with multiple domes (big-ish to small) and a few mobile domes as well in case someone wants to find me. ;-) -- "There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself." -- Bach http://www.donarmstrong.com http://rzlab.ucr.edu
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