www/distros free-system-distribution-guidelines...

[Richard M. Stallman]

CVSROOT:        /webcvs/www
Module name:    www
Changes by:     Richard M. Stallman <rms>       09/05/19 19:33:53

Modified files:
        distros        : free-system-distribution-guidelines.html 

Log message:
        Fix typo in section id.
        Clarify patent policy explanation.
        Clarify trademark issue for modification.
        Add trademark issue for verbatim redistribution.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.2&r2=1.3

Patches:
Index: free-system-distribution-guidelines.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /webcvs/www/www/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html,v
retrieving revision 1.2
retrieving revision 1.3
diff -u -b -r1.2 -r1.3
--- free-system-distribution-guidelines.html    11 Mar 2009 11:45:39 -0000      
1.2
+++ free-system-distribution-guidelines.html    19 May 2009 19:33:13 -0000      
1.3
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
 Free Software Directory</a>.</p>
 </div>
 <div class="section">
-<h3 id="non-fuctional-data">Non-functional Data</h3>
+<h3 id="non-functional-data">Non-functional Data</h3>
 <p>Data that has an aesthetic purpose, rather than a functional one,
 may be included in a free system distribution as long as its license
 gives you permission to copy and redistribute, both for commercial and
@@ -116,13 +116,16 @@
 <p>In extreme cases, these restrictions may effectively render the
   program nonfree.  It is unfair for someone to ask you to remove a
   trademark from modified code if that trademark is scattered all
-  throughout the original source.  As long as the conditions are
-  reasonable, however, free system distributions may include these
-  programs, either with or without the trademarks.</p>
+  throughout the original source.  As long as the practical
+  requirements are reasonable, however, free system distributions may
+  include these programs, either with or without the trademarks.</p>
 <p>Similarly, the distribution itself may hold particular trademarks.
-  It is not a problem for these marks to be in the distribution, as
-  long as they can readily be removed without losing the system's
+  It is not a problem if modification requires removal of these
+  trademarks, as long as they can readily be removed without losing
   functionality.</p>
+<p>
+  However, it is unacceptable to use trademarks to restrict verbatim
+  copying and redistribution of the whole distribution, or any part.</p>
 </div>
 <div class="section">
 <h3 id="documentation">Documentation</h3>
@@ -149,12 +152,13 @@
 <h3 id="patents">Patents</h3>
 <p>It is effectively impossible for free software developers and
 distributors to know whether or not a given piece of software
-infringes any patents: there are too many of them, and they're often
-worded so as to obscure their intended application.  In part because
-of this, we don't expect free system distributions to exclude any
-software because of threats from patents.  On the other hand, it's
-also not a problem if a distributor chooses to exclude some software
-to minimize the risk of patent infringement suits against them.</p>
+infringes any patents: there are too many of them, they vary from
+country to country, they're often worded so as to make it hard to tell
+what they do or don't cover, and it isn't easy to tell which ones are
+valid.  Therefore, we don't generally ask free system distributions to
+exclude software because of possible threats from patents.  On the
+other hand, we also don't object if a distributor chooses to omit some
+software in order to avoid patent risk.</p>
 </div>
 <div class="section">
 <h3 id="final-notes">Final Notes</h3>
@@ -213,7 +217,7 @@
 <p>
 Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2009/03/11 11:45:39 $
+$Date: 2009/05/19 19:33:13 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>