Re: Dependence on nonfree software

[Christopher Dimech]

> I like it but I would just leave the last sentence out, or I would
> change it to "Communicating with a network service usually
> does not steer users toward running or installing nonfree software on
> their machine."

Examples would be important so people can decide what is likely acceptable
and what is not.

But, it would be easier not to put examples in the same paragraph.
Make a section with a list of examples of use cases that authors
are likely to encounter.  This way will make things much clearer
and straightforward to make judgement.


---------------------
Christopher Dimech
General Administrator - Naiad Informatics - GNU Project (Geocomputation)
- Geophysical Simulation
- Geological Subsurface Mapping
- Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation
- Natural Resource Exploration and Production
- Free Software Advocacy


> Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 3:01 PM
> From: "Ian Kelling" <iank@fsf.org>
> To: "Alfred M. Szmidt" <ams@gnu.org>
> Cc: savannah-hackers@gnu.org, rms@gnu.org
> Subject: Re: Dependence on nonfree software
>
>
> Alfred M. Szmidt <ams@gnu.org> writes:
>
> >      > From reading the requirements, I think it is already clear that
> >      > requirement is for software running on your machine, is it not?
> >
> >    It is not explicit about this.  Some seem to have interpreted "not
> >    refer the user to any nonfree software" as forbidding use with an
> >    online service that is presumably implemented with nonfree software.
> >
> >    The clarification is to say that this clause does not apply
> >    to using the program with a service.
> >
> >    Do you see now what I mean?
> >
> > I think so.  I suggest changing,
> >
> >   The package must not refer the user to any nonfree software; in
> >   other words, it must not say anything that in our judgment is likely
> >   to lead or steer users towards any nonfree software.
> >
> > to
> >
> >   The package must not refer the user to any nonfree software; in
> >   other words, it must not say anything that in our judgment is likely
> >   to lead or steer users towards running or installing nonfree
> >   software on their machine.  E.g., communicating with network
> >   services is fine since that doesn't require the user to install or
> >   run nonfree software.
>
> I like it but I would just leave the last sentence out, or I would
> change it to "Communicating with a network service usually
> does not steer users toward running or installing nonfree software on
> their machine."
>
>   The package must not refer the user to any nonfree software; in
>   other words, it must not say anything that in our judgment is likely
>   to lead or steer users towards running or installing nonfree
>   software on their machine.
>
> - Ian
>
>