OSNews > Thread > "RE[2]: So much for freedom" by SlackerJack

Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 28th Sep 2006 22:44 UTC, submitted by csousa

Debian adheres to a strict interpretation of what is Free Software and what isn't. The Firefox logo is trademarked, so Debian doesn't consider it to be Free and will not include it as part of its distribution. Mozilla claims that using the Firefox name without the official branding is a trademark violation. Furthermore, Mozilla claims that if Debian runs any patches to the version of Firefox included with Debian distros, it has to run them by Mozilla first for approval. What all this ultimately could mean is that the Firefox name is wiped from the face of Debian and its offshoots. Debian developer Eric Dorland confirmed to internetnews.com that Debian will re-name Firefox and that the re-naming process could be completed as soon as next week.

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RE[2]: So much for freedom

by SlackerJack on Thu 28th Sep 2006 23:12 UTC in reply to "RE: So much for freedom"

Member since:
2005-11-12

So why have they all of a sudden done this, Firefox have been with many distros for agers now. Dont Mozilla want their browser to be known by firefox just for the sake of a tradmark.

You can have our browser but call it something else?, dont sound like openness and freedom to me.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 3

RE[3]: So much for freedom

by orestes on Thu 28th Sep 2006 23:17 in reply to "RE[2]: So much for freedom"

Member since:
2005-07-06

As far as I can remember the Mozilla Trademark policy has been like that for well over a year.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 5

RE[3]: So much for freedom

by jakesdad on Fri 29th Sep 2006 00:24 in reply to "RE[2]: So much for freedom"

Member since:
2005-12-28

the issue is Debian is releasing patches to firefox that are not authorized by mozilla. Mozilla does not want to be responsible because debian modified something. It makes sense to me...

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 5

RE[3]: So much for freedom

by Don Grayson on Fri 29th Sep 2006 01:54 in reply to "RE[2]: So much for freedom"

Member since:
2006-01-01

The question is what's up with Debian screwing with Firefox? If they don't like the licensing then let people download directly from Mozilla instead of forking their own version off just because Mozilla trademarked the name.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 4

RE[4]: So much for freedom

by Innova on Fri 29th Sep 2006 14:08 in reply to "RE[3]: So much for freedom"

Member since:
2005-09-30

and you still will be able to do this! Download firefox from the website - install it. Or, I am sure that someone will maintain a .deb of it and it may be available in non-free.

However, debian proper has a strict policy of what can be included in the free branch. A non-trademarked and properly free version of firefox included - how is that wrong?

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 1