Re: [directory-discuss] [gnu.org #1430355] DRM free version of Firefox is available at Moz Directory

[bill-auger]

this thread strayed a bit off-track, but raised several
significant concerns; so i will try to crystalize them


1. does the FSF want to recommend free software programs
   to windows users?

    i think that they do - i presume that was among the
    motivations for the FSD


2. would the FSF want to recommend firefox-no-drm to windows
   users?

    if the answer is "yes", then does icecat any longer need to
    maintain icecat? - icecat does several things other than
    disabling DRM that were presumed to be important or
    necessary, once upon a time - shall we suppose that icecat
    does more than it needs to do?

    bear in mind that most windows users will download the binary
    releases - if the only difference between binary releases of
    firefox-no-drm and firefox-standard is that DRM is switched
    off, then FSDG distros would be subject to freedom-bug
    reports and the wrath of The Great Gnu for re-packaging those
    upstream binaries for their users to install - the would make
    for an uncomfortable recommendation, no?


3. are FSD listings presented or to be taken as recommendations?

    im not sure


4. should anything FSDG-non-free be on the FSD?

    i have not read the entire FSD guidelines; but one key
    difference may be that the FSDG are intended to be taken as
    recommendations - they are quite clear about avoiding to
    facilitate or direct users toward other non-free programs,
    beyond the ones offered by the distro - the mozilla add-ons
    repo integration in firefox and thunderbird, for example, is
    considered to be both directing and facilitating


5. should that program be listed on the FSD if it offers all four
freedoms?

    i assume that is a "yes"


6. does that program offer all four freedoms?

    the source code always has, if you shave and brush it just so
    - one has the freedom to remove any parts that one can not
    modify or re-distruibute

    the specific build recipe determines which external libraries
    end up in the baked pudding - 100% free source code A` often
    has the option to compile external non-free library blobs
    into binary A; so there is more to consider regarding
    binaries


extra credit: do FSD entries have links to the upstream
binaries or their website?

    again, per the FSDG, even if the source code offers all four
    freedoms, that could be facilitating downloading of and/or
    directing towards a server where non-free software can be
    found - perhaps the FSD policy differ on that point; but if
    an FSDG distro operated the FSD, those caveats would apply