On http://www.pdfreaders.org/index.en.html , you recommend SumatraPDF reader, but this software contains DRM copy protection antifeatures. Shouldn't the FSFE take a stance against this?
It prevents copying text from "protected" PDFs for fair use purposes like translation or quoting. This is contrary to the principles of Free Software:
https://code.google.com/p/sumatrapdf/issues/detail?id=2003 https://code.google.com/p/sumatrapdf/issues/detail?id=1927
I know Evince and Okular also contain this type of restriction, but they make it optional, and Debian patches software to remove these "features".
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Hey,
On 25/05/13 15:23, omegatron wrote:
On http://www.pdfreaders.org/index.en.html , you recommend SumatraPDF reader, but this software contains DRM copy protection antifeatures. Shouldn't the FSFE take a stance against this?
It prevents copying text from "protected" PDFs for fair use purposes like translation or quoting. This is contrary to the principles of Free Software:
https://code.google.com/p/sumatrapdf/issues/detail?id=2003 https://code.google.com/p/sumatrapdf/issues/detail?id=1927
I know Evince and Okular also contain this type of restriction, but they make it optional, and Debian patches software to remove these "features".
What should I tell him? Personally, I do not have strong feelings about this particular issue because he can patch the software if he does not like the antifeatures. However, I do not really feel like condoning software supporting DRM either.
Nico, how is the librar issue proceeding with SumatraPDF creator?
Cheers, - -- Heiki "Repentinus" Ojasild FSFE Fellowship Representative mailto:repentinus@fsfe.org xmpp:repentinus@jabber.fsfe.org http://blogs.fsfe.org/repentinus/
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On 27/05/13 15:43, Heiki "Repentinus" Ojasild wrote:
What should I tell him? Personally, I do not have strong feelings about this particular issue because he can patch the software if he does not like the antifeatures. However, I do not really feel like condoning software supporting DRM either.
Sumatra is Free Software, and as Heiki says it can be patched or forked to change its DRM implementation in future.
The PDFReaders website doesn't show only the best readers, or the ones whose policies we like the most - it lists all FS readers, and recommends the most usable for specific operating systems.
Therefore in my view we should not remove it for this reason, and allow the user to discover and prioritise the differing implantations of DRM in the readers that we offer.
You can tell him that in your own words if you agree :)
Sam.
- -- Sam Tuke Campaign Manager Free Software Foundation Europe IM : samtuke@jabber.fsfe.org Latest UK Free Software news: uk.fsfe.org Is freedom important to you? Join the fellowship.fsfe.org
* Sam Tuke samtuke@fsfe.org [2013-05-27 16:35:41 +0200]:
On 27/05/13 15:43, Heiki "Repentinus" Ojasild wrote:
What should I tell him? Personally, I do not have strong feelings about this particular issue because he can patch the software if he does not like the antifeatures. However, I do not really feel like condoning software supporting DRM either.
Sumatra is Free Software, and as Heiki says it can be patched or forked to change its DRM implementation in future.
The PDFReaders website doesn't show only the best readers, or the ones whose policies we like the most - it lists all FS readers, and recommends the most usable for specific operating systems.
Therefore in my view we should not remove it for this reason, and allow the user to discover and prioritise the differing implantations of DRM in the readers that we offer.
You can tell him that in your own words if you agree :)
I agree. Heiki do you want to reply?
Nico, can you ask the sumatra developer to add an option like okular to disable it?
Heiki, if Nico can contact him, you can add that information.
Regards, Matthias
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On 28/05/13 08:39, Matthias Kirschner wrote:
You can tell him that in your own words if you agree :)
I agree. Heiki do you want to reply?
I agree. However, I would like an update on the librar issue before proceeding. I dislike claiming Sumatra is Free Software until that issue is resolved.
Nico, can you ask the sumatra developer to add an option like okular to disable it?
Heiki, if Nico can contact him, you can add that information.
Aye.
Sincerely, - -- Heiki "Repentinus" Ojasild FSFE Fellowship Representative mailto:repentinus@fsfe.org xmpp:repentinus@jabber.fsfe.org http://blogs.fsfe.org/repentinus/
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Dear omegatron,
On 25/05/13 15:23, omegatron wrote:
On http://www.pdfreaders.org/index.en.html , you recommend SumatraPDF reader, but this software contains DRM copy protection antifeatures. Shouldn't the FSFE take a stance against this?
We do not support DRM or other anti-features. However, as long as the software is free, patching and removing such anti-features is trivial, and hence we do not see a need to discriminate against SumatraPDF on those grounds.
PDFreaders.org aims to neutrally list Free Software PDF readers regardless of any other philosophical positions that may have influenced a particular reader's design. PDFreaders.org should not be taken to endorse any listed reader; it only has informative purpose.
It prevents copying text from "protected" PDFs for fair use purposes like translation or quoting. This is contrary to the principles of Free Software:
https://code.google.com/p/sumatrapdf/issues/detail?id=2003 https://code.google.com/p/sumatrapdf/issues/detail?id=1927
I know Evince and Okular also contain this type of restriction, but they make it optional, and Debian patches software to remove these "features".
You are welcome to patch (and fork) the software if you dislike a particular design decision. In fact, I would encourage you to do so.
Thank you for sharing your concerns.
P.S. Please note that we are considering dropping SumatraPDF creators a line about the issue; however, we will not alter our position regardless of their attitude to our concerns regarding DRM.
Sincerely yours, - -- Heiki "Repentinus" Ojasild FSFE Fellowship Representative mailto:repentinus@fsfe.org xmpp:repentinus@jabber.fsfe.org http://blogs.fsfe.org/repentinus/