Policy on works using unacceptable licenses?

[David Nielsen]

2008/9/23 Máirín Duffy <duffy at fedoraproject.org>

> Hi folks,
>
> Since it is now clear we have some licensing issues with at least one of
> the candidates for the theme, I would like to hear your thoughts on what we
> should do. Since the vote is in art team members' hands I think it's our
> call to decide what to do next.
>
> Here are the options as I see them and/or as have been suggested to me:
>
> 1 - disqualify invinXble as a theme, even if invinXble wins, the 2nd-place
> winner will win
>
> 2 - if invinXble (or any theme that has photos we aren't able to source)
> wins, replace any sourced photographs in it with properly-licensed ones
>
> 3 - disqualify any themes that use images we cannot find properly-licensed
> photo source references for.
>
> For what it's worth, anyway, here are my thoughts:
>
> I've considered option 1 because I think it would make it quite clear that
> as a team we can not and will not tolerate risks to Fedora's freedom. While
> I can understand an accidental slip-up or misunderstanding, I cannot
> understand deception taken to this degree over time (posting multiple fake
> sources, 'cover ups' in the source files, repeated denials, broken promises)
> and I don't want us to look as if we endorse that kind of behavior in any
> way. If invinXble ends up being the default for Fedora, at least for myself,
> it would be a continual reminder of this deception even if it was repaired.
>
> As for option 2, I have offered to do the work needed but I also understand
> this may be quite some work and we *cannot* slip and miss the preview
> release. It's may need to involve me going to Boston Museum of Fine Arts for
> a katana shoot... Consider this the 'making lemonade out of lemons' option.
>
> I don't know if 3 is really a viable option; it will be a lot of work to
> replace source photos we aren't sure of, but it will also be a lot of work
> to expand the other two themes to a final state. (both Neon and Grub need
> grub and syslinux designs and overall refinement.)
>
> I do think that in their current state, inviXble and potentially Solar are
> not acceptable for inclusion in Fedora. I think Solar will be easier to
> repair than invinXble. The moon photo in Solar is not as visible and central
> as the katana photo in invinXble.


I would favor option 2 with the understanding that a proper policy be
written and must be agreed upon when submitting artwork for Fedora in the
future. This way we do not lose the two most developed themes this late in
the game and we still get to correct the problem. This at least would be
similar to what we have done in other parts of the distro when such
unfortunate issues have arisen.

- David
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