Re: Debian/GFDL

[David Kastrup <dak@gnu.org>]

Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> writes:

>> From: Nicolas Neuss <lastname@mathematik.uni-karlsruhe.de>
>> Date: 10 Nov 2006 18:06:53 +0100
>> 
>> I am uncertain about which is the right direction wrt to the GFDL.
>
> I'm not sure what you are saying here.  ``Right direction'' for what
> purpose?  If you just want the documentation for yourself, simply
> download it and install it, that's it.
>
>> I am
>> relatively sure that RMS has put some thought and legal advice into it, and
>> I am also not sure if simple things would work in most countries (e.g. you
>> cannot simply give up your rights on creative works in Germany).  On the
>> other hand, I find the GDL a very complicated license which probably leads
>> to maintenance problems later on.
>
> The problem is not that GFDL is complicated,

But it is.  That's one of the things I find off-putting with it.  And
likely one of the reasons that the drafts now include a "simplified"
variant.

> the problem is that it includes certain restrictions on
> modifications to the manuals that are covered by GFDL, and Debian
> opposes to those restrictions.
>
> I don't see why private citizens should be bothered by that
> controversy, though.

Because Debian is, after all, not an uncommon distribution.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum