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Re: [gNewSense-users] Not all GPL'd programs are free software.
From: |
Kelly |
Subject: |
Re: [gNewSense-users] Not all GPL'd programs are free software. |
Date: |
Sun, 1 Jun 2008 23:52:51 -0600 |
On Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:57:01 -0500
"J.B. Nicholson-Owens" <address@hidden> wrote:
> Kelly wrote:
> > The file is licensed under the GPL. As such it is *free* software.
>
> Sadly it's not that simple. Apparently some programmers distribute
> software under the GNU GPL without supplying the complete
> corresponding source code for that software (Linux kernel drivers
> with proprietary firmware, for instance). Proprietary software is
> not free software, so in 100% free software operating systems (such
> as gNewSense GNU/Linux) any non-free software must be removed.
>
> It takes careful analysis know whether a table of hex, for instance,
> is non-free software or something innocuous such as a lookup table
> that could have been computed instead. The latter wouldn't pose a
> freedom problem but the former certainly would.
>
>
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That is a bummer.
--
krp
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