Actually, writing a free VGA BIOS was discussed. But it is a little beyond
the scope of what your average debian packager is expecting to do :)
Actually it is well beyond the scope of what anyone was willing to do; they
were hoping that one of the free PC BIOSes could be used (which they
obviously can't).
You also should remember that debian is VERY dedicated to the concept of
free software and the GPL and whatnot (being a GNU project and all). I love
Debian, but when politics gets in the way of great free software, it gets a
bit annoying. Anyhow, here's to hoping it gets worked out by the time
plex86 is ready for prime-time.
.Geoff
-----Original Message-----
From: Drew Northup [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2001 8:54 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [plex86] Debian package
If you (they?) don't like the video BIOS license, then write a new
one--please (it would help us in implementing 3D acceleration anyway).
Also, according to the law (at least in the US), it is not up to the Debian
group to enforce the Elpin VGA BIOS license (or any other 3rd party license
for that matter)--they just can't violate it. If it was up to the
distributor to enforce license agreements then all forms of 3rd party
distribution would be impossible--no if's, and's, or but's.
Drew Northup, N1XIM
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf
> Of Hausheer, Geoffrey
> Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 2:12 PM
> To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
> Subject: RE: [plex86] Debian package
>
>
> The problem is that the license doesn't allow for modification of
> the BIOS,
> and that the license says something about "may only be
> used/distributed for
> use with plex86/bochs and be used only in the manner intended" (that's a
> summary not verbatim) which debian can't enforce, and thus can't
> distribute.
> The Debian guys have very strict policies about what licenses are
> compatible, and the VGA BIOS didn't fit. So there were questions about
> splitting the BIOS out, or putting the whole thing under non-free, and,
> well, it didn't look like any good solution could be found. Someone was
> going to write the the BIOS authors to see about getting the
> license changed
> as I recall.
> Hopefully it'll all get worked out eventually.
> I'm not one of the Debian Developers, and I'm only reciting this
> stuff from
> memory, so if you want more info go look at the archives.
> .Geoff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Drew Northup [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 11:10 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: [plex86] Debian package
>
>
> We'd be happy to see a sources-only package on any distro, but:
> 1) we aren't quite ready yet
> 2) it MUST be a sources package--not binaries please!!!
> As for the licensing issue, I believe that a sources set can be
> included in
> your distro so long as it is just the sources (& the included VGA
> BIOS). So
> tell them that.
>
> Drew Northup, N1XIM
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf
> > Of Hausheer, Geoffrey
> > Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 11:07 AM
> > To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
> > Subject: RE: [plex86] Debian package
> >
> >
> > While it'd be great to have a debian package, you should look at
> > the Debian
> > Developer mailing list archives for the last month or so.
> There is a big
> > question as to whether plex86 can be packaged at all because of the
> > licensing of the VGA BIOS. Plus plex86 really isn't ready for binary
> > packages yet, though it is getting close (that is to say it won't be a
> > trivial package to make, and you'll need to rebuild it constantly
> > to keep it
> > current with CVS). Anyhow someone HAS ITP'd plex86, so you
> might as well
> > head over to debian-devel and see what's going on.
> > .Geoff
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Dale Thatcher [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 9:17 AM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: [plex86] Debian package
> >
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > Has anyone looked at building a Debian package? If not I'd be
> > happy to give
> > it
> > a go.
> >
> > thanks,
> >
> > - Dale
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
