position statement from the kernel team over the current non-free firmware GR vote (Was: Call for votes for GR: : Handling source-less firmware in the Linux kernel)
Hello, The kernel team consider that neither of the two proposals currently under vote [1] are a good solution to the non-free firmware problem. Furthermore, a consensual proposal has now reached enough seconds [2] to be put to vote, and is much preferable, both in clearness of text as in actual content. The proposal made by Josselin (Choice 2) will have a hard time to pass, as it needs 3:1 supermajority. It gives a longer term exception for firmwares beyond the etch release, which we believe not being necessary, and furthermore, it is an amendment to the original proposal from Steve, now withdrawn, and is thus less clean. The proposal originally from Frederik as amended by Manoj (Choice 1) has serious issues. It doesn't correspond to the wish of the kernel team, as expressed by the position statement at [3] following the kernel team meeting about the firmware issue. This proposal is titled : Choice 1: Release Etch even with kernel firmware issues but this is highly misleading, since the actual proposal in many ways contradicts this. The proposal states : 1. It forces us to not release as part of etch those firmwares removed in sarge, which include popular drivers used for installation as tg3 and acenic (Point 3.). 2. It means illegal to distribute firmwares will have to go (good), altough it is silent about the sourceless GPL ones (Point 4.). 3. It means we will not distribute firmwares with non-DFSG free licenses (Point 4.). This is highly confusing, because the distinction is made on the licenses, and not on the actual freeness, and it thus favours firmwares under free licenses, but not respecting the terms of the licenses, over those firmwares whose copyright holder has clarified their licensing, like broadcom did for the tg3 license. Furthermore, the current choice 1, which will allow to ship sourceless GPLed firmwares, should have needed a 3:1 supermajority, as it directly contradicts the DFSG. For all these reasons, the kernel team believes that the solution proposed at [3], and which already reached enough seconds, and will thus be needed to be voted on, is a better solution, and since it is not possible anymore to amend the current ballot, we urge all voters to vote Further Discussion, and allow for the recast of a new ballot containing the better solution, and possible other amendments (like a rewording of Josselin's proposal on top of the consensual proposal for example). On behalf of the Debian Kernel Team, Friendly, Sven Luther [1] - http://www.debian.org/vote/2006/vote_007 [2] - http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2006/10/msg00183.html [3] - http://wiki.debian.org/KernelFirmwareLicensing#head-98e7641feaea08b775f4d5c58d071b77ff172c90 -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Call for votes for GR: : Handling source-less firmware in the Linux kernel
On Sat, Oct 07, 2006 at 06:52:41PM -0500, Debian Project Secretary wrote: - - -=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- c2d43675-9efa-4809-a4aa-af042b62786e [ ] Choice 1: Release Etch even with kernel firmware issues Manoj, you have again overstepped your Secretarial position, by issuing a misleading title for the proposal you propose. The proposal of Frederik would have allowed etch to release, while the one amended by you, will cause more problems that it solves, in particular it will mean many firmwares will have to go, among them the tg3 one, and so we either drop support for the users of those hardware (and there was general outcry for this one, even inside the kernel team when this was first proposed), or we delay etch until the d-i folk get the support for non-free firmware going. So, given this poorly worded ballot, i suppose the vote will be void anyway, and i strongly call for everyone to vote further discussion over the other solutions. Friendly, Sven Luther -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Call for votes for GR: : Handling source-less firmware in the Linux kernel
Sven Luther [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: So, given this poorly worded ballot, i suppose the vote will be void anyway, and i strongly call for everyone to vote further discussion over the other solutions. If people do not READ THE RESOLUTION, then they get what they deserve. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Call for votes for GR: : Handling source-less firmware in the Linux kernel
Thomas Bushnell BSG [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Sven Luther [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: So, given this poorly worded ballot, i suppose the vote will be void anyway, and i strongly call for everyone to vote further discussion over the other solutions. If people do not READ THE RESOLUTION, then they get what they deserve. In a vote, those who do not read the resolution affect others who do. This is one of the benefits of a discussion period -- the opportunity to ensure people understand the resolution before voting. -- \ Saying that Java is nice because it works on all OSes is like | `\saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders | _o__) -- http://bash.org/ | Ben Finney -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Call for votes for GR: : Handling source-less firmware in the Linux kernel
Ben Finney [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Thomas Bushnell BSG [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: If people do not READ THE RESOLUTION, then they get what they deserve. In a vote, those who do not read the resolution affect others who do. This is one of the benefits of a discussion period -- the opportunity to ensure people understand the resolution before voting. s/people/more people/ -- \ Democracy is the art of running the circus from the monkey | `\ cage. -- Henry L. Mencken | _o__) | Ben Finney -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Call for votes for GR: : Handling source-less firmware in the Linux kernel
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 - - -=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- c2d43675-9efa-4809-a4aa-af042b62786e [ 1 ] Choice 1: Release Etch even with kernel firmware issues [ 3 ] Choice 2: Special exception to DFSG2 for firmware as long as required [3:1] [ 2 ] Choice 3: Further discussion - - -=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFFKwukBB45r3HV9DoRAjwgAJ99yg1PEWTxnJvc0hrrfjzT72YztgCeL7fd +9CocuQltueDRD+HhbBiW3k= =FdGS -END PGP SIGNATURE- -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Call for votes for GR: : Handling source-less firmware in the Linux kernel
On Sunday 08 October 2006 01:52, Debian Project Secretary wrote: - - -=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- c2d43675-9efa-4809-a4aa-af042b62786e [ 2 ] Choice 1: Release Etch even with kernel firmware issues [ 1 ] Choice 2: Special exception to DFSG2 for firmware as long as required [3:1] [ 3 ] Choice 3: Further discussion - - -=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Call for votes for GR: : Handling source-less firmware in the Linux kernel
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 - - -=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- c2d43675-9efa-4809-a4aa-af042b62786e [ 2 ] Choice 1: Release Etch even with kernel firmware issues [ 1 ] Choice 2: Special exception to DFSG2 for firmware as long as required [3:1] [ 3 ] Choice 3: Further discussion - - -=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Processed by Mailcrypt 3.5.8+ http://mailcrypt.sourceforge.net/ iD8DBQFFKGnMO0PrGO4KNccRAs7BAKCIHCn1NtGvYSimQfJeps9ZmC5bjACfcw/V QuUiKMhT/45yCHIYhnpLtOU= =Yo12 -END PGP SIGNATURE- -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
