Re: [pdf-devel] Use of Adobe's CMap files in GNU PDF

[Martin Schröder]

2007/12/8, Karl Berry <address@hidden>:
>     To me this whole issue screams typical FSF: Legal
>     issues are more interesting then technical ones.
>
> I prefer to talk about GNU, rather than the FSF.  GNU is a technical
> project, but even more fundamentally a social one; both kinds of issues
> are "interesting", i.e., necessary.  Social/legal issues are usually a
> lot harder to solve than technical ones; that doesn't make them more
> interesting, just more frustrating.  I'm sure there is no need to
> explain this to you, or to anyone on this list.

Thanks. I've had my run-ins with debian-legal. :-)

> As far as a reason for wanting to "modify" the cmap files: suppose I get
> some crazy idea and want to create an alternative format to PDF, and my
> crazy idea requires making a variation on cmap files.  Obviously I want
> to derive my "modified" cmap files from the existing ones (and equally
> obviously I would make sure my files are clearly distinguishable from
> the originals).  That is what we are asking, and that is what free
> software is all about.

Thanks for the explanation. I was thinking only of PDF, where
modifications still seem nonsens to me. But I rest my case. :-)

Best
   Martin