Discussion: Non-OSS Software on Media

[69_rs_ss]

This is a discussion currently going on the openSUSE Factory Mailing
Lists. For anyone that feels strongly one way or another and wants to
voice their opinion, I urge you to join that mailing list and post. I
just wanted to bring to light something that an integral part of any distro.

Originally Posted by Michael Loffler

Hi,

we discussed already once [1] the situation with proprietary software on
our distribution. We agreed on the list and in an IRC project meeting that
it's not nice but is very convenient for many users and should stay
therefor
on media.

I'm opening the discussion again as with that we never will achieve a user
friendly licence as already copying of our software on DVD is not
allowed and
even some mirrors have an issue with this licence. We receive on a regular
base inquiries in this regards and bad press [2].

Here is our proposal for new discussion.

*Ship any media of openSUSE with open source software and proprietary
software
which allows redistribution (eg. firmware), for details [3].

*Add during installation automatically an online repo with the non-OSS
stuff
and install per default flashplayer (5MB) and the fluendo plug-in (210K)
for
mp3.

This would allow us to offer a user friendly end user licence agreement
(EULA)
and would remove the cause of bad press and angry users reading the EULA
really carefully.

Some background info:
- survey of usage of proprietary[4] software showed that only
flashplayer and
acroread really are used by a majority of users (Java is not an issue
anymore
as we ship with 11.1 openJDK)
- with the distribution of 90%+ of broadband access amongst our users
flashplayer via online repo shouldn't be a problem. And without internet
access flashplayer won't be an issue for anybody.
- For acroread we're sure that the open source alternatives (kpdf, evince,
okular) are at same level with acroread. The only drawback we're aware
of is
the missing functionality PDF Forms offers today.

We're asking for your buy-in for having a more friendly EULA, to make the
distribution of openSUSE easier and get the software in more hands.

BTW: we'll replace the proprietary agfa-fonts with the open source
alternative
Liberation fonts with openSUSE 11.1.

Best
Michael

[1] http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-f.../msg00050.html
[2] http://lwn.net/Articles/283555/
[3] http://en.opensuse.org/Non_oss_software
[4]
http://files.opensuse.org/opensuse/e...E_06122007.pdf

-- Michael Löffler, Product Management SUSE LINUX Products GmbH -
Nürnberg - AG Nürnberg - HRB 16746 - GF: Markus Rex

[dragonbite]

Is all this EULA only due to non-OSS being included on the DVD?

I can understand restrictions on the use of Novell, SUSE and openSUSE logos and trademarks.

I just want to make sure I understand this, as I am currently in the midst of an argument/forum thread on the Ubuntu forums regarding this and I want to clear up misconeptions if at all possible.

Thanks.

[snakedriver]

Originally Posted by dragonbite

Is all this EULA only due to non-OSS being included on the DVD?

I can understand restrictions on the use of Novell, SUSE and openSUSE logos and trademarks.

I just want to make sure I understand this, as I am currently in the midst of an argument/forum thread on the Ubuntu forums regarding this and I want to clear up misconeptions if at all possible.

Thanks.

I think the discussion is about the 3rd party packages (like Real Player) that have issues about being freely distributed with free distros -- 3rd party logos and trademarks.

Novell/SUSE also has logos and trademark constraints but freely provide the ones you can use; see: Artwork - openSUSE and Novell Logos & Images: Logo & Icon for Novell & SUSE - Novell Box Shot & Wallpaper

Some you can change; others have constraints -- you have to read the fine print