ubuntu-eee-coders team mailing list archive

[Mike Gratton <mike@xxxxxxx>]

As Alan said, it is odd that Ubuntu EEE ships non-free applications by
default when Ubuntu, the distribution it is built on (and named after)
goes to length to promote that they do not ship non-free applications by
default. Note that when I say "by default" I mean as part of the initial
applications provided by the installation process.

If Ubuntu EEE would like to ship with non-free replacements by default
then that is certainly up to the Ubuntu EEE maintainers. However doing
so is a surprise to people who are familiar with Ubuntu's policies and
might expect Ubuntu EEE to have similar policies. So if Ubuntu EEE does
this, then perhaps it should remove "Ubuntu" from its name to avoid this
confusion.

By shipping non-free applications by default, Ubuntu EEE is effectively
tarnishing Ubuntu's name in the Free Software community.

-- 
do not replace free software with non-fre software
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/264959
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Eee Coders, which is subscribed to Ubuntu Eee.

Status in Ubuntu Eee: New

Bug description:
On your web site, you state:

"It's an operating system based upon open source software, but also providing some proprietary alternatives (e.g. Skype instead of Ekiga). Sounds great!" -- http://www.ubuntu-eee.com/index.php5?title=Main_Page

This is not a feature, it is a bug. By providing proprietary alternatives, you are encouraging people to use them instead of the free software equivalents, which is bad for users, both in the short term and long term.

Please do not ship non-free applications by default.