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XFree86 4.4: List of Rejecting Distributors Grows

Posted by timothy on from the about-this-small-print dept.

Bootsy Collins writes "Yesterday, we discussed Mandrake's decision to revert their release-in-development from XFree86 version 4.4 back to version 4.3 because of issues with the new XFree86 license. To update this, the list of OS distributors opting out of XF86 Version 4.4, and future releases, based on licensing concerns continues to grow. While Fedora seems to be "preparing to support multiple X11 implementations", Red Hat has explicitly stated that they have no plans to ship XFree86 v4.4 under its current license. Also add to the growing list list Debian, Gentoo, and OpenBSD."

5 of 682 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The Question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    its only required IN THE DOCUMENTATION or alternatively IN THE SOFTWARE WHERE OTHER THIRD PARTIES ARE LISTED! no where does it mention displaying it on bootup. does your pc currently list third party software devs on bootup? why would xfree suddenly appear there then? i also fail to see the problem with the new licence. seems like its just for the sake of kicking up a fuss to me

  2. Re:Oh great, here we go... by krumms · · Score: 1, Troll

    XFree86 has been a very good project. The freedesktop.org X server, though, will be very difference once the GNOME and KDE folks get involved. The nice, clean config file will be replaced by some arcane XML format.

    How is XML arcane?

    IMHO, <option name=ZAxisMapping value="4 5" /> is much more verbose than what you see in the current XF86 config file.

    In fact, the XF86 config file would probably be better suited to XML than what it currently uses: XML is for structured data - have you read an XF86Config file lately? notice the structure?

    Sure, if they throw namespaces into the mix then things change - again, IMO - for the worse.

    But don't knock XML. It's "extensible" (and thus more complex) only if you need it to be.

  3. Re:Free Software by mirabilos · · Score: 1, Troll

    It's actually more free than the GNU GPL or even
    the LGPL.
    It's equivalent to the 4-clause UCB licence, and
    that's why the MirOS Project (MirBSD and soon-to-be
    MirLinux, remember?) has no problem with it.

    We will import XFree86 4.4 after it's released,
    and have already incorporated the advertising
    clause (and prepared for the Apache License 2.0).

    We do also read licences, like the OpenBSD people.

    --
    My Karma isn't excellent, damn it! (And /. still does not get UTF-8 right in 2012. Wow.)
  4. Re:What is the issue? by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 0, Troll
    Say I'm GNOME. My software is GPL'd. My software links against xlibs. Because my software links against xlibs, I have to obey the new restriction in the new XFree86 license.

    Like most people in this thread, you haven't bothered to read (or understand) the "problem clause." Let's take a look:

    3. The end-user documentation included with the redistribution, if any, must include the following acknowledgment: "This product includes software developed by The XFree86 Project, Inc (http://www.xfree86.org/) and its contributors", in the same place and form as other third-party acknowledgments. Alternately, this acknowledgment may appear in the software itself, in the same form and location as other such third-party acknowledgments.

    Distributing a binary linked with xfree does not constitute redistribution of the XFree code. In other words, everyone who is complaining about the "linking problem" is wrong. The only people required to add the clause are people redistributing X itself.

    And finally, you think that a comparison between drug laws and software licenses is apt, but can't see a connection between RMS's obnoxious advertising and XFree's obnoxious advertising? Even for slashdot, I'm astounded.
    --

    How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
  5. nVidia has good drivers? Since when? by Baloo+Ursidae · · Score: 0, Troll
    If it werent for the fact I'm so freaking broke right now, I'd go down to Fry's and pick up a Radeon and take my nVidia card down to the 11th and Clay Streetcar Stand and see what kind of improvements the wheels of the Portland Screechcar can do to it.

    Why? Because using nVidia's drivers in any OS is a lot like sucking raw shit through a very thin straw. Some revisions simply won't compile. They refuse to release drivers for Linux 2.6. Tech support is nonexistant.

    Fuck nVidia, I can't wait for the stock market to ruin them like it ruined @Home.

    --
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