[ros-kernel] Hey guys...

[KJK::Hyperion]

At 23.06 10/02/2004, you wrote:
>The only solution is to ship these fonts in another package.

the real solution is to have a license-sensitive package manager. Debian 
can do "free"/"non free" because Debian isn't Linux, it's *GNU* - they 
*revolve* around freedom in the software world. We are different. There are 
two ways to handle the extreme etereogenity of Windows environments: 1) put 
our hands on the ears and sing "la la la" while staring at the ceiling, or 
2) rationalize it once and for all

I've factored the problem into what I think is the simplest model possible: 
every package comes with "using" and "copying" terms. "Using" can be e.g. 
"free", "non-commercial only", "personal only", etc. and "copying" can be 
"free", "must supply human-readable source too", "must not alter", etc. The 
setup program asks you a couple of questions about the use you plan to make 
of the system, and it warns you when you're about to violate a license by 
installing a package you shouldn't. Packages requiring a patent grant or 
other kinds of special licenses could ask you, just before installation, if 
you have such license. The UI will also provide links to the original text 
of the license and (if you feel really paranoid) to a disclaimer saying 
that any information outside the original text is merely informative and 
provided as an aid, not as legal advice

Anyway, yeah, it's unlikely that an average Joe would get in any trouble 
for giving away copies of the setup CD and failing to e.g. comply to the 
GPL requirements of providing human readable sources, but I'm a programmer 
at hearth, and non-orthogonal solutions make my skin itch