Jave (Re: Since ubuntu is pushing python, a good python IDE should be available)

[Matt Zimmerman]

On Mon, Nov 08, 2004 at 09:56:35PM +0100, Eric Feliksik wrote:

> Fábio Mendes wrote:
> >Has anyone at Canonical tried to contact them regarding this issue
> >(maybe an open letter to sun)? We don't need source level access to the
> >java machine (although it would fit the project ideals nicely :-), but
> >it would definitivaly be a plus if it was possible to ship java in a
> >default ubuntu installation.
> 
> Initially I read that Ubuntu would only ship non-free software when 
> necessary to make hardware work, like binary drivers.

Correct, that is our current policy.  We make an exception only in order to
enable essential hardware functionality.

> Does this mean there can be relaxations for this policy if Sun allows
> Ubuntu to ship java?

The two issues are independent:

- Our ability to redistribute software (at all) is governed by the license
  terms provided by the copyright holder.

- The criteria which determine the categorization of software within Ubuntu
  are documented in our license policy:

  http://www.ubuntulinux.org/ubuntu/licensing/

-- 
 - mdz