[SlugLUG] Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy Eft Released

[Sean Kellogg]

Just to clarify a common misconception about this issue, while trying to not 
take sides as I can sympathize with both positions.

The fundamental concern is not one of copyrights.  Firefox and its brethren 
are released under the tri-license scheme, one of which is the GPL...  so 
anyone is free to do whatever they want with the copyrighted material (within 
the guidelines of the GPL).  This includes modifying the heck out of the 
source code as seems to be the want of the current Firefox debian packager.

The issue here is one of trademarks, which is a whole separate issue from 
copyrights.  The Mozilla Corp|Foundation has a trademark in both the firefox 
logo and the word "firefox" as applied to browsers.  The GPL is silent on the 
topic of trademarks and Mozilla has not granted a blanket right to use the 
term.  They only allow it to be used if you comply with certain standards, 
one of which is patches must be reviewed by the Firefox developers.

This runs into a host of issues in the eyes of Debian and the Debian Free 
Software Guidelines (DFSG).  In my opinion, Debian has recently taken a 
somewhat overzealous interpretation of the DFSG and applied it to 
all "things" that comprise their distribution (as opposed to just software 
code).  This includes images, sounds, fonts, and even words (Google "Debian 
GFDL invariant" for more about word freeness).  

So, on the Mozilla side you have the concern about producing a high quality 
product and keeping control of its brand image (behavior which is required 
under the law if they are to maintain their trademark), and on the other you 
have Debian, who does not want to have to submit patches for upstream review 
and believes all pieces of their distribution must be free, absolutely. 
(Never mind that the ubiquitous Debian swirl is a non-free image and under 
trademark).

Which leaves re-branding as the only reasonable course of action.  Keeps 
Debian free and avoids the potential of tarnishing Mozilla's trademark.

-Sean

-- 
Sean Kellogg
c: 831.818.6940    e: skellogg at gmail.com
w: http://blog.probonogeek.org/

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