Policy on BUILD_PATENTED

[Adrian Schmutzler]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: openwrt-devel [mailto:openwrt-devel-bounces at lists.openwrt.org]
> On Behalf Of Mauro Mozzarelli
> Sent: Montag, 10. August 2020 10:36
> To: openwrt-devel at lists.openwrt.org
> Subject: Re: Policy on BUILD_PATENTED
> 
> On 09/08/2020 12:44, Bjørn Mork wrote:
> > Mauro Mozzarelli <mauro at ezplanet.org> writes:
> >> On 09/08/2020 03:35, Henrique de Moraes Holschuh wrote:
> >>
> >>> I believe OpenWrt should not even *consider* placing its umbrella
> >>> organization(s) -- which are based on the U.S. -- in legal risk
> >>> without at least contacting them first and getting their approval.
> >>>
> >>> Has anyone asked SPI about it yet?
> >> Who/What are these "umbrella" organizations? What is their
> >> relationship with OpenWrt?
> > This is answered by the FAQ:
> > https://openwrt.org/faq/general
> >
> >> And what is the "legal risk"?
> > I guess that's the question you should ask the SPI.
> >
> > This is not a technical or a political discussion.  It's about not
> > putting your friends at unnecessary risk, even if they happen to live
> > under some regime you don't like or respect.
> >
> >
> > Bjørn
> 
> Although I respect other's opinions and rules, I do not think it is right to limit
> everyone's freedom, just to appease some.

That's why we allow you to use BUILD_PATENTED and not just remove that stuff entirely.

> 
> If there is a minority who is unable to use parts of this software, we can make
> it easy for that minority to be able to strip those software components (or
> they can propose and implement changes that achieve that themselves), but
> in no way limit or prevent everyone from making use of it.

But still, OpenWrt as a project/organization in embedded in an environment it has to care about.
And that of course includes caring about the interests of important stakeholders (or at least ask them about those), and not make our decisions based on how we would like the world to be.

I think Bjørn put that in a nutshell nicely.

Best

Adrian

> 
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