[Ichthux-devel] Penguin in the Pew Available

[Troy A. Griffitts]

> The ones that are in Debian are in the public domain.  These texts
> *have* been modified by people other than the original copyright
> holders, which underscores why freedom to modify the text can be an
> asset.

I think there is a nuance here that is very important.  These 'texts'
have NOT been modified.  Their electronic entities have been modified to
more closely match the text.

Note the specifics which you quote, below:

> This text matches the printed edition as published by Moody
> Press, 28th printing, no Copyright displayed. ISBN:
> 0-8024-5190-X. This text was created from an existing electronic
> copy, with roughly 1200 errors corrected.
> 
> If the text wasn't DFSG-free, the errors could not have been corrected.

I don't think the logic of this statement holds.  I could easily make a
license that stated that electronic encoding updates and errors found to
not match a printed edition could be made to a text I develop.  I'm sure
I could make this license also not be DFSG-free in your eyes.

>  If the text wasn't DFSG-free, the errors could not have been corrected.
Thus, the text wasn't DFSG-free, and the errors COULD be corrected.


>>I think Debian needs to rethink their maturing stance on documentation
>>while it is still in its infancy.
> 
> 
> I don't.  Debian is in the software distribution business, not the
> publishing business.  These businesses have different, and sometimes
> conflicting needs.

You are limiting my freedom as to what I can include with my software,
not enhancing it.  VI states that you must include their unchanged page
for helping children in Uganda-- many people write software for causes
other than the empty promises of Marxism.  If you tell me I CAN'T
included my opinion article with my software, then you are limiting my
purpose and freedom for writing software.  It's absurb to mandate
software distribution principles on published opinions.  These
businesses have different and somtimes conflicting needs.


> Why would anyone do such a thing?  Besides, you wouldn't resort to
> copyright law to deal with that.  You'd have a case of libel on your
> hands.

If you would allow me to include my personal purpose statement with my
software, and still publish it on a Debian CD, then why is there a
problem including PitP on the Debian CD.  This was my only point.

Thanks for the interaction.  I enjoy exploring these principles _on
occasion_.

	-Troy.