Why Ubuntu isn't for New Linux Users

[Randy Gloden]

I think the thought is that it can be distributed.  The tool would not 
contain the libdvdcss or other such legally questionable software.  It 
is merely and enabler.  This is no different than including the same 
enabling scripts within the wiki.  For the software where there are 
legal complications, the program could be configured to only retrieve 
the libdvdcss type programs if the user indicated that they were not in 
a country where it was illegal (serving a similar purpose to the warning 
that appear in the wiki).

Then again, IANAL.  If distribution was not allowed and this software 
also had to be installed from some non-main source, then you might at 
well use EasyUbuntu and get it all installed and out of the way. 

I think the goal is to create a situation where when the user runs into 
trouble, and the solution automatically presents itself.  If there ended 
up being some silly legal mechanism to nail us for creating a seamless 
link to retrieve/install this type of software, then a pop-up message 
that explained the problem with a link to the appropriate section of the 
wiki would still be better than nothing.  This is the kind of thinking 
that will really make a positive difference in a distro.

---------Randy
www.microbabble.com

Paul O'Malley wrote:

> Randy Gloden wrote:
>
>> useful as other options.  In the long run, this solution would 
>> require less expertise than the EasyUbuntu approach (which required 
>> the user to actively select the appropriate options).  So, this is a 
>> better approach that what I had envisioned.  Now all we have to do is 
>> to get it workable and into the distro.
>
>
> Please note, that you can't stick this in the distro as your are 
> suggesting and distribute it in countries with as yet untested laws 
> but ones that non the less say you can't decrypt stuff without the 
> "correctly licenced tool".
> The countries that have this that I know of are the USA and Ireland, 
> there are more.
> They call it the DMCA, me I call it the Dominated by Multiple 
> Corporate* Atrocities.
>
> *It is my opinion corporations have a right to exist, we need them, 
> but they do not have a right not one to rule my life. This is just 
> like a two year old does not have the right to throw a tantrum in the 
> middle of a shop. They need to be taught good citizenship and held 
> accountable for same.
>
> Regards,
>
> Paul
> whisper e n r o n
>