[Bug 468580] New: License: export control restrictions violates GNU/FSF recommendation
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Sun Oct 26 12:38:55 UTC 2008
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Summary: License: export control restrictions violates GNU/FSF recommendation
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=468580
Summary: License: export control restrictions violates GNU/FSF
recommendation
Product: Fedora
Version: rawhide
Platform: All
URL: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/attachment.cgi?id=295106
OS/Version: All
Status: NEW
Severity: low
Priority: medium
Component: liberation-fonts
AssignedTo: cchance at redhat.com
ReportedBy: sergey_feo at mail.ru
QAContact: extras-qa at fedoraproject.org
CC: cchance at redhat.com, fedora-fonts-bugs-list at redhat.com
Classification: Fedora
Excuse me for my bad English :-)
Description of problem:
The Liberation fonts are known to most people as "free" now. But license of
Liberation fonts contain some restrictions that makes this fonts not free.
Let's see to license of "liberation" fonts - paragraph 5 "Export control":
"[...] As required by U.S. law, Client represents and warrants
that it: (a) [...]; (b)
is not located in a prohibited destination country [...] (currently Cuba, Iran,
Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan
and Syria) [...]".
So, please think: Can we say that fonts with such license are free?
Hyperbolic variant A: is the font that can not be legally used at California
and Columbia free or not free?
Hyperbolic variant B: is the font that can be used legally only at Moon free or
not free?
I understand that Redhat must not break U.S. laws. But it seems that license
may not contains such things. Lets see what GNU/FSF writes about it -
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html, paragraph below freedoms list:
"Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without
modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to anyone
anywhere".
And so - http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html#exportcontrol:
"Sometimes government export control regulations and trade sanctions can
constrain your freedom to distribute copies of programs internationally.
Software developers do not have the power to eliminate or override these
restrictions, but what they can and must do is refuse to impose them as
conditions of use of the program. In this way, the restrictions will not affect
activities and people outside the jurisdictions of these governments."
Please accept this GNU/FSF recommendation and exclude export limitations from
license if it is possible.
Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
1.0-1
How reproducible:
Always
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Download archive from https://bugzilla.redhat.com/attachment.cgi?id=295106
2. Unpack
3. Read file "License.txt", paragraph 5 intently. Imagine that prohibited
destination is you home or home of your friend.
Actual results:
Fonts is not really free.
Expected results:
Fonts should be free because it was included to Fedora to be free.
Additional info:
-none-
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