Well, I've made a change in plans. Firefox will remain my default browser. I'm just not too terribly excited about the IceWeasel fork. I've evaluated their decision, and the pros/cons, and here's what I came up with:
- Mozilla wants to protect their trademark. The browser should be used in conjunction with the image.
- Debian doesn't want to use the images as they claim this makes the software non-free. They have a valid concern, but Debian has a trademarked logo also, although I don't think it's found anywhere in the operating system. I could be wrong. I don't know, as I'm not a Debian user.
- As an Ubuntu user, I am using their trademarked logo in the operating system itself. Does this mean the Ubuntu operating system is non-free? Heavens no, it just means that Ubuntu is interested in protecting themselves, their name and their product.
So does using the non-free logo that Mozilla ships with Firefox make the browser non-free? Certainly not. You are free to do with the code as you wish, you just aren't allowed to modify the image or take it with you.
So, here's my solution to the longstanding debate between Debian and Mozilla. Debian: rather than make Firefox your default browser, make Epiphany or Galeon (or Konqueror if using KDE) the default. Put Firefox in your non-free repositories. Just like any other operating system, if the user wants it, they have to manually install it.
This way, you're not alienating users by forking the project, you allowing the maximum amount of freedom giving everyone the choice whether or not to have trademarked browsers installed, and you can keep Mozilla happy by using the trademarked image with the browser. Everyone wins.
Firefox: you're back to being my browser of choice. Sorry I ever left you. With that said, I'm excited for your 2.0 release in 7 days. And hopefully, you'll be in Edgy.
Nothing to see here. Please move on.
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