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NewsForge: Debian Decides on GNU Free Documentation License

By Bruce Byfield

“In a surprise decision, the developers of Debian have voted
that materials released under the GNU Free Documentation License
(GFDL) are compatible with the Debian Free Software Guidelines
(DFSG) — but only if they contain no invariant sections. The
decision settles a longstanding dispute within the project about
the GFDL. Although the decision continues to separate Debian from
other free and open source software (FOSS) projects, most of which
accepts the GFDL without reservations, the possibility remains that
future revisions to the license could allow Debian accept it
fully.

“The decision is surprising because many prominent–or, at least
vocal–Debian members have been saying for years that the GFDL did
not fit with the DFSG, the set of principles used by Debian to
determine what is shipped with official releases of the
distribution…”

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