[Fsf-friends] Item-9 in Open Source Definition

[Mani A]

On Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 7:36 AM, Raj Mathur <raju at linux-delhi.org> wrote:
> Er, why?  All that the clause says is that you are allowed to
> distribute, e.g., nVidia drivers along with Ubuntu on the same CD if
> you want.  It doesn't impact the freedom of free software in any way.

It does deprive users of many of the advantages of FOSS and even OSS.
Users are required to trust more closed source stuff. FOSS should mean
100% FOSS not something like 90% OSS and 10% closed source software.

But Stallman-sense FOSS seems to mean 100% OSS is in itself sufficient
to be FOSS at the practical level. For example the gNewSense distro is
a Stallman-sense FOSS distro. Stallman-sense FOSS is OSS + Attitude.
But a clearer realization of 'FOSS' should be possible at the
practical level.

Things have changed a lot in FOSS/OSS worlds and so it is possible.

> AFAIR the GPL also contains a similar clause.

Yes, GPL does say that. But  most concepts of FOSS try to go beyond that.

Best

A. Mani

-- 
A. Mani
Member, Cal. Math. Soc