Mozilla vs Debian Analyzed

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Tuesday October 10, 2006 @10:30AM from the me-no-mine-no-me dept.

lisah writes "Linux.com has a behind the scenes look at the history of the ongoing debates between Debian and Mozilla that predate Debian's last release, Sarge. The article also reports the issue may have been laid to rest for good now that Debian tentatively plans on calling it "Iceweasel" but attorney Larry Rosen said this never should have been a debate in the first place. In addition, Mozilla has been prompted to clarify its position on the company's marketing blog."

7 of 414 comments (clear)

Summary by Anonymous Coward · 2006-10-10 10:40 · Score: 5, Informative

Summary, hopefully before anyone gets a chance to 'blame' Mozilla or 'blame' Debian over nothing:

Debian don't want to include certain icons related to Firefox because the licensing of those graphics isn't consistent with the aims of their project.

Mozilla say that's fine, as long as Debian don't call the package "Firefox".

So Debian aren't going to call it Firefox.

No villains, and everyone lives hapily ever after. The end.
1. Re:Summary by mad.frog · 2006-10-10 11:25 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Can you imagine how life would be for distros if GNOME decided it doesn't get called GNOME unless it's the official GNOME release (no modifications)?
  
  Yes, I can imagine it.
  
  It would fucking ROCK.
  
  Being able to assume that "GNOME 2.10" really is "GNOME 2.10" everywhere, and not "GNOME 2.10 plus some stuff that I thought might cool and without the stuff I thought I didn't need"... well, it would make life a lot simpler for app developers.
2. Re:Summary by PygmySurfer · 2006-10-10 11:33 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  What if the Firefox version released with Etch absolutely sucks? What if it crashes regularly, trashes the user's home directory, and eats small children? Are user's going to blame Debian, because of their patches? No, they're going to blame Mozilla and claim Firefox sucks. Word will spread, and people will be under the mistaken impression Firefox is an unstable child eating browser from Hell. If Debian makes their patches and renames it, people will only be under the impression Iceweasel sucks.
  
  I don't know what kind of patches Debian is applying, but they must not be trivial, if Mozilla wants to approve them before allowing distribution with their name and artwork.
  
  The Mozilla foundation laid all of this out a long time ago. Debian knew the terms when they began using Firefox. They're free to agree to the terms or not use it.
Re:Really sad... by squiggleslash · 2006-10-10 10:44 · Score: 5, Insightful

There is no dispute.
Mozilla doesn't want programs called "Firefox" to diverge too much from the original. Debian wants to make some changes that go beyond what the Mozilla group are happy calling "Firefox". So they've taken option #2 and renamed it.
It's just a choice. It's the choice both are happy with. Why it keeps being portrayed as some kind of war is beyond me.

--
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
Matt Groening - Love is ... by khasim · 2006-10-10 11:08 · Score: 5, Informative

Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come.

- Matt Groening

Simpsons, Futurama, Life in Hell
When Firefox ceases to be Firefox... by 9mind · 2006-10-10 12:24 · Score: 5, Insightful

1) Debian doesn't want to use the offical patch system (i.e wait on Firefox's update approval process, etc.)
2) a user on a Debian system not knowing this goes to Mozilla IRC with a Firefox problem (this has already happened)
3) No one can solve the Bug... only to find it is an unofficial patch made or nto made by Debian
4) User complains that Firefox sucks because its not the same across systems
5) Brand is tarnished
6) Rinse. Repeat.
If you don't want to follow the guidelines, and follow your own way of doing things... change the name, or risk damaging the whole projects reputation. If I know Firefox works a certain way, I go to a new system and something doesn't work quite right, well guess what I'm not going to be happy. It's starts with the logo... but where does it end?
Re:Iceweasel? by thebluesgnr · 2006-10-10 12:25 · Score: 5, Informative

Debian never wanted to go unofficial, they did so to comply with the DFSG. The Mozilla Foundation was aware that they were doing that, and they authorized Debian. Until recently, when the Mozilla Corporation changed their minds and filed a bug against Debian.