Non-free Extras?

[sean]

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 18:27:09 -0500
Eric Mesa <ericsbinaryworld at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hash: SHA1
> 
> In order to pull in packagers like those maintaining Dries, Dag Weirs,
> freshrpms, and others, and in order to assure Fedora users that their
> packages would work instead of saying, "if you don't use official
> packages, you're on your own," has there been any conversation on
> taking an example from Debian and having a non-free repository?  It
> would also free up the packagers who spend so much time duplicating
> each other's packages in order to ensure compatibility.  I know there
> are issues with their ffmpeg and mp3 codecs, but could these issues be
> solved simply by designating their repositories as non-free?  I think
> it would greatly enhance the Fedora experience, IMHO as a loyal FC
> user since Yarrow.
> 

Not speaking as an authority, but such notions are directly against the 
stated goals of this project.  The fact that there are some people who want
to also use non-free software doesn't (and shouldn't) change the nature or
goals of the project itself.   Those who want to do so should create a 
central repository themselves and provide whatever guarantees they can muster.
It's not likely to ever be able to use Fedora branding though.

Sean