On Thu, Mar 31, 2005 at 02:46:21PM +0100, Matthew Garrett wrote:
> Thomas Bushnell BSG <tb@becket.net> wrote:
> 
>
> I had to modify my BIOS in order to get my laptop to work with my
> wireless card. This would have been rather a lot easier if I'd had the
> source code.
> 
>
> I would say that "If software of class X is distributed sometimes burned
> into hardware, then Debian distributing other software of class X would
> not have a significant impact upon the rights of our users". As far as

I think that's a *very* slippery slope.  Think embedded devices; a lot
of them has the software on flash or even as ROMs.  Would this software
be acceptable in main just because it was available on ROM too?

> freedom is concerned, both types are equivilently bad. The choice is
> either:

> 1) Distribute the non-free firmware. Our users are happy.

Sure, as long as we distribute it in *non-free* where it belongs.

[snip]


Regards: David Weinehall
--
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//  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   //  Diamond-white roses of fire //
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