On Fri, 15 Oct 2010, Anssi Hannula wrote: > Seems sensible to ask the mirror owners. It is possible some of them have not > been aware of the problem at all, so I think we should make sure they > understand that Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, etc. also contain patented technologies > (to avoid the situation where they are willing to mirror Ubuntu/Debian/Arch > but not allow patented software in Mageia, just because the other > distributions didn't notify them of the issue; if they don't want to mirror > Mageia if it contained patent-encumbered software, they really shouldn't be > mirroring those other distributions either).
While you are right that we should point out that Ubuntu/Debian/Arch contain the same potentially patent-infringing (in a few countries) software as Mageia IN CASE THEY OBJECT to this in Mageia, I don't see why we should stirr up a hornets nest in the first place. The mirror maintainers are responsible adults, you don't need to point out anything to them, it's their decision and their responsibility to comply with local laws of their country. I assume none of us is a lawyer (especially not with expertise in the laws of all countries), so giving legal advice to the mirror admins is pointless and most likely counterproductive. Imagine how other distros will react if they find out that Mageia induced some mirrors to drop their distros, now that would make Mageia popular in the wider Linux community...
