Re: MAME emulator is giving incentive to use non-free software

[Nils Gillmann <niasterisk@grrlz.net>]

Jean Louis <guix@rcdrun.com> writes:

> On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 12:35:12PM +0100, rain1@openmailbox.org wrote:
>> MAME, Wine, Qemu and GNU/linux-libre all have the following in common: You
>> can use them to run non free software. While they can all also be used to
>> run free software I don't think this is important. Here's why: The freedom
>> to run the program as you wish, for any purpose (freedom 0).
>
> OK, please remember, I discuss this in friendly manner, totally separate
> from other subjects. It is not personal. I wish that people get
> awareness of what means pushing free software into society.
>
> I do feel that in GuixSD, since yesterday, there is lack of the
> understanding what means truly free software. When Trademark issue is
> not recognized over MAME® trademark, I also see that there is lack of
> legal advice. Person who owns trademark may impose future restrictions
> on software even demand moneys for sales of such. So that issue is
> separate to be handled if MAME is included in GuixSD.

From some message in the thread I asssume that you have a legal
background in your job?
What's civodul's opinion on this? Should we CC rms and/or some
legal related gnu list on this? I think potential trademark issue
if they can be prevented before they happen are serious enough to
discuss.

The trademark question is the only thing I follow at the moment,
I have no time to respond more in detail about the other topics.

> Including a package such as MAME is convenient for gamers, but does not
> push free software into the society. People who make free software
> distributions shall undertand that important responsibility.
>
> Did you read the guidelines?
> http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html
>
> Cite:
>
> "What would be unacceptable is for the documentation to give people
> instructions for installing a nonfree program on the system, or mention
> conveniences they might gain by doing so."
>
> Does README.md here, belongs to documentation? I think it does.
> https://github.com/mamedev/mame
>
> Does it encite users to use non-free software by "preserving decades of
> software history"? It does.
>
> Does it give incentive to users by "Where can I find out more?" to come
> to the official website and does the official website offer any free
> software? No, they don't. They offer ROMs, which cannot be even copied.
>
> Does then GuixSD gives incentive by distributing MAME to users, to use
> non-free software? Absolutely yes.
>
> Are users of MAME who ask for support within that community to run MAME,
> going to be divided because they will not get support truly, but they
> will rather be rejected with "sorry, we don't support proprietary
> installations of ROMs" -- yes, it will happen, just as it is already
> happening with Trisquel.
>
> I use free software and I am free and fine with it. I am not using free
> software to have 2 faces or to recommend to others non-free software.
>
> For that reason that MAME gives incentive to majority of users to use
> non-free software, it shall not be included in distribution.
>
> Jean Louis
>
>

-- 
ng
personal contact: http://krosos.sdf.org
EDN: https://wiki.c3d2.de/EDN