I appreciate the detailed reply. I read the guidelines, and they render
most of my questions moot. As I read them, however, they also render
the original issue moot.
OpenSSL is completely "free" in the Debian sense.
My questions about locality, however, are still highly pertinent.
Let's look at IDEA, and let's assume that the OpenSSL README is correct
in stating that IDEA is not patentented in Australia, but is patented in
the UK. If OpenSSL were (still:) maintained by Australian nationals,
then could Debian distribute IDEA? Suppose the exact same code is now
maintained by a group of folks in the UK and Switzerland, where it's
patented? Suppose the groups switch, and the Debian project moves en
masse to Australia (perhaps bought out by Linuxcare, let's say :) while
the OpenSSL folks stay inside a patented country?
Unfortunately, it seems that (Debian) freedom depends on where the
question is being asked.
Finally, note that there is a subtle difference between code that
implements licensed technology, and the technology itself. OpenSSL
charges nothing; IDEA's owners probably do.
/r$
______________________________________________________________________
OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org
Development Mailing List [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Automated List Manager [EMAIL PROTECTED]
