Re: Debian teTeX (was: Re: Saving space...)

On Wed, Apr 23, 2003 at 01:54:30PM +0200, David Kastrup wrote:
> Sebastian Rahtz <[email protected]> writes:
> 
> > If Debian seriously drop LPPL from their classification
> > of free software, then I think we can kiss goodbye to TeX
> > systems under Linux.
> 
> I don't see any Linux distribution stopping ditributing TeX for that
> reason.  All that may happen would be that some default Debian disks
> did not include it.
>...

Debian consists only of free software. Debian 3.0 ships seven CDs with 
free software and another seven CDs with the sources for these programs.

The non-free parts of the Debian FTP archives are not part of the debian 
system and not shipped on CDs (the licences of some of the programs in 
Debian non-free even forbid the shipping on CD).

Besides these explanations I don't think anyone in Debian really wants 
to loose TeX. If you read the comment after section 4 of the Debian Free 
Software Guidelines you notice that the intention is _not_ to make as 
many programs as possible non-free (the "different name" sentence was 
made to make it possible to consider programs like TeX to be free 
software).

> > Life is too short for fooling around with license arguments!
> 
> Tell that to the courts...  however, life may well be too short for
> fooling around with Debian-legal.

Please don't use a @gnu.org address when making such statements.

cu
Adrian

-- 

       "Is there not promise of rain?" Ling Tan asked suddenly out
        of the darkness. There had been need of rain for many days.
       "Only a promise," Lao Er said.
                                       Pearl S. Buck - Dragon Seed