[GNU-linux-libre] Re: Freedom issues with non-free firmware in external files

[Yavor Doganov]

Daniel Olivera wrote:
> Like non-free firmware.
> It's same situation.

It's the same, yes.  Everyone using an entirely free distro can
compile (or install) a blobby kernel himself.

But a free distro should not distribute such package in its
repositories.  How is that unclear or questonable?

> If license respect a 4 liberties is free sofwtare if don't is not
> free software.

The license is only one aspect.  As nearly no program can function in
isolation, the dependencies have to taken into consideration.  And,
for drivers, you'd have to evaluate whether magical mystery numbers
created for the sole purpose of obfuscating the real source do count
as respecting the 4 freedoms.

> if free software to work use a non-free component is not our problem

Our "problem" is to provide a computing environment that respects
users' freedom.  So if a package or a component of a package relies on
something that is non-free, it can't be part of that environment.  If
you want to include it, then either you're deluding yourself, or lying
your users by breaking the promise to provide a 100% free OS.

> iwl3945 driver is GPL-2 and don't need any non-free component to
> compile.

Yeah, everything is bundled with the "source".

> if google-earth use a glibc libraries we need block a software
> intallation to prevent tempation of the users?

Nobody is preventing installation.  The point is not to distribute
such pieces, not because to prevent temptation -- because doing so is
some kind of endorsement, and effectively transmits the message that
using such software is OK.