It appears that Battle for Wesnoth is considering changing their policy in regards to which licenses are allowed in their add-ons repository.
Here is a briefing of the situation (from a conversation in #fsf IRC channel, only joins/quits and unrelated messages were removed): --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- 2017-08-12T14:09-0300 <temp_trisquel> Hi. 2017-08-12T14:09-0300 <temp_trisquel> It looks like Wesnoth developers will allow non-free add-ons. 2017-08-12T14:09-0300 <adfeno> ? 2017-08-12T14:09-0300 <adfeno> Proof? 2017-08-12T14:09-0300 <temp_trisquel> https://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=46093 2017-08-12T14:10-0300 <temp_trisquel> any CC = with non-free 2017-08-12T14:10-0300 <temp_trisquel> Remove it from Free Software Directory [...] 2017-08-12T14:13-0300 <adfeno> Not exactly non-free per see... But *can* pose some issues to GNU FSDG compliant distros. 2017-08-12T14:13-0300 <adfeno> The GNU FSDG is somewhat strictier in regards to what is allowed in free distros. [...] 2017-08-12T14:14-0300 <adfeno> Wesnoth's UMC licensing change does pose an issue because this means that the third-party repository will no longer be commited to comply with the GNU FSDG. 2017-08-12T14:14-0300 <adfeno> third-party = UMC 2017-08-12T14:14-0300 <temp_trisquel> But downloader is included into Wesnoth. 2017-08-12T14:15-0300 <temp_trisquel> *add-ons downloader 2017-08-12T14:18-0300 <adfeno> This probably means that GNU FSDG-compliant distros will have to modify the "add-ons downloader" so as not to download from UMC. 2017-08-12T14:24-0300 <temp_trisquel> Can you report this on some mailing lists? [...] 2017-08-12T14:35-0300 <adfeno> Will do. [...] 2017-08-12T14:49-0300 <temp_trisquel> Is there a mailing list for issues like this? [...] 2017-08-12T14:55-0300 <adfeno> temp_trisquel: I guess the main point is gnu-linux-libre: [[https://lists.nongnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-linux-libre]] (group's main page: [[https://libreplanet.org/wiki/FreedSoftware]]) 2017-08-12T14:56-0300 <adfeno> But, it also helps to simply drop a link to the thread in gnu-linux-libre, in development mailing lists for GNU FSDG distros (guix-devel, and so oon). :) [...] 2017-08-12T14:58-0300 <adfeno> I'll post to gnu-linux-libre now. --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- The basis for my argumentation is that, according to GNU FSDG, section about license rules ([[https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html#license-rules]]): #+BEGIN_QUOTE “Information for practical use” includes software, documentation, fonts, and other data that has direct functional applications. It does not include artistic works that have an aesthetic (rather than functional) purpose, or statements of opinion or judgment. All information for practical use in a free distribution must be available in source form. (“Source” means the form of the information that is preferred for making changes to it.) The information, and the source, must be provided under an appropriate free license. We evaluate specific licenses and list our determinations in our license list, with separate sections for licenses that are suitable for software, documentation, fonts, and other useful works. If such a work is released under a disjunction of licenses, the work is free as long as at least one of its licenses is free; the system developers should follow the terms of the applicable free license(s) when they distribute and/or modify it. A free system distribution must not steer users towards obtaining any nonfree information for practical use, or encourage them to do so. The system should have no repositories for nonfree software and no specific recipes for installation of particular nonfree programs. Nor should the distribution refer to third-party repositories that are not committed to only including free software; even if they only have free software today, that may not be true tomorrow. Programs in the system should not suggest installing nonfree plugins, documentation, and so on. #+END_QUOTE The rule of not referencing to third-party repositories commited to the GNU FSDG, however, seens to only apply to functional/practical data/works. Furthermore, the GNU FSDG mentions, in the section about non-functional data ([[https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.en.html#non-functional-data]]): #+BEGIN_QUOTE Data that isn't functional, that doesn't do a practical job, is more of an adornment to the system's software than a part of it. Thus, we don't insist on the free license criteria for non-functional data. It can be included in a free system distribution as long as its license gives you permission to copy and redistribute, both for commercial and non-commercial purposes. For example, some game engines released under the GNU GPL have accompanying game information—a fictional world map, game graphics, and so on—released under such a verbatim-distribution license. This kind of data can be part of a free system distribution, even though its license does not qualify as free, because it is non-functional. #+END_QUOTE So far, I have made some basic empirical observation how Battle for Wesnoth's campaigns work, and I found structures that look similar to scripts because some of the campaigns' files have "[if]", "[or]" and "[else]" statements. Besides, from the second quote from the GNU FSDG, the new licensing rules in Battle for Wesnoth's add-ons repository would allow licenses that forbid sharing and selling original copies. What should the workgroup and free/libre distributions do? I so far suggest that we do at least one of these: - Adapt the add-ons downloader so as not to download from the Battle for Wesnoth's add-ons repository. - Make an add-ons repository that is compliant with GNU FSDG. - Tell Battle for Wesnoth about the issues. Also trying to convince players, contributors and supporters. -- - [[https://libreplanet.org/wiki/User:Adfeno]] - Palestrante e consultor sobre /software/ livre (não confundir com gratis). - "WhatsApp"? Ele não é livre, por isso não uso. Iguais a ele prefiro GNU Ring, ou Tox. Quer outras formas de contato? Adicione o vCard que está no endereço acima aos teus contatos. - Pretende me enviar arquivos .doc, .ppt, .cdr, ou .mp3? OK, eu aceito, mas não repasso. Entrego apenas em formatos favoráveis ao /software/ livre. Favor entrar em contato em caso de dúvida.
