New Ubuntu repository -- "commercial"

[matthew]

I just found this. http://ubuntu.wordpress.com/2006/07/...al-repository/

I can confirm it has two packages in it for Ubuntu: Opera and Realplayer.

Discuss.

[Rackerz]

Great . Hopefully there are no complaints and arguements about Ubuntu beeing 'completely' free.

[wmcbrine]

Interesting. Are there other pacakges that should go there? (Java? Flash?)

I kinda thought this was covered by "Multiverse" already.

[Max Luebbe]

I agree with what the author wrote.
I believe in freedom of choice.

We can't bury our heads in the sand and pretend the software doesn't exist.
People should be allowed to choose to use it if they want to, and if they do, it should be relatively easy.

If a developer is going to make a linux version of their commercial software, it by nature is available to all linuxes. Ubuntu included. Ignoring them is pointless, I for one really support the idea of the commercial repo, because it provides another incentive to choose Ubuntu over other distro.

[benplaut]

afaik, multiverse is for things that are legally 'questionable,' this repo is for things that are legally OK to be redistributed (special agreement or whatever), but wouldn't 'taint' the main, GPL-complient repo.

[Compucore]

Is there a listing of whats in that particular directory so we can see it or is it just those two in there right now to download? Just wanted to know before I append it to the actual listing over here. I don't want to add something that is not allowed. on my dapper here.

Compucore

[RavenOfOdin]

In reply to the second poster . . . I'm okay with commercial software, just not with companies that distribute patchwork thievery on a heavily locked-in and overpriced basis and then have the guts to say they're at the forefront of innovation *cough*Microsoft*cough* without giving any credit to the REAL innovators -- and that have no redeeming qualities to boot.

I wouldn't buy anything from or work for Microsoft if I were paid ten million dollars to do so, and I'd tell their recruiters pretty much to f*** off. But I'd have no problem buying a game from Mythic Entertainment or working for ID Software.

I think this can be a good thing for Ubuntu, if used appropriately.

[jimmygoon]

Just in case you missed it,
https://ubuntu.wordpress.com/2006/07...al-repository/

So, the question I was wondering was:

Where can I find a list of the packages that will be offered through this and what advantage does this provide over other repositories that alreay have these packages?


Any thoughts?

[bonzodog]

This, in my opinion, is a Good Thing(tm). I believe the community can only benefit from such a move, as this software can be hard to install and obtain at the best of times.

[woedend]

i think we should have a user contributed but verified community repo also, similar to how arch does, to bring projects like automatix, bumps, xgl and compiz cvs, bonfire, audacious etc etc together instead of having a different repo for each.