"This sounds like a big issue for Trisquel."
Not at all.
"AFAIK Trisquel does not compile from source except for the modified
packages."
That will need to change so as to be able to escape the proprietary license
Canonical applies to the binaries. However, most packages are only built once
and never updated per release, so it is not terrible. The bigger deal would
be if Canonical were to take the next logical step with their "proprietary
license on things that aren't copylefted" policy and stop providing source,
or provide it under the same un-free license as the binaries are. For this
reason it is important for people to fight against Canonical's policy as it
exists now, to prevent it from getting any worse. I see that as the primary
purpose of the announcements made by the FSF & Conservancy: To call attention
to this and hopefully encourage people to express their concern and
dissatisfaction over this matter. Before Canonical takes it even further.
