[vox-tech] rar unrar and non-free package

[Micah J. Cowan]

It's worth pointing out, though, that the "rar" utility is also
non-free-as-in-beer: it's shareware.

  $ apt-cache show rar
  
  <snip>
  
  Description: Archiver for .rar files
   This is the RAR archiver from Eugene Roshal. It supports multiple volume
   archives and damage protection. It can also create SFX-archives. There are
   versions which run on DOS, Windows (3.1x,95,NT), FreeBSD, BSDI.
   .
   This program is shareware and you must register it after 40 days of use.
  Bugs: mailto:ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
  Origin: Ubuntu

-Micah

On Sun, Jun 25, 2006 at 06:06:09PM -0400, Hai Yi wrote:
> thank you, Norm and Bill.
> Norm, I tried out the site you refered to and have it downloaded and
> working; Bill, thanks for the clarification in regard of the
> "non-free" stuff, maybe I'll then try some of them : )
> 
> Hai
> 
> 
> On 6/25/06, Bill Kendrick <nbs at sonic.net> wrote:
> > On Sun, Jun 25, 2006 at 10:01:46AM -0400, Hai Yi wrote:
> > >
> > > I downloaded a rar zip file and check the debian packages and found
> > > the utilities like rar/unrar are non-free.
> > >
> > <snip>
> > >
> > > How to proceed if I do want to purchase a non-free package?
> >                                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >
> > In Debian, "non-free" specifically refers to the license, not the monetary
> > cost.  From The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ, Chapter 5: "The Debian FTP archives"
> > [ http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-ftparchives.en.html ]:
> >
> >   stable/non-free/: This directory contains packages distribution of
> >   which is restricted in a way that requires that distributors take
> >   careful account of the specified copyright requirements.
> >
> >   For example, some packages have licenses which prohibit commercial
> >   distribution. Others can be redistributed but are in fact shareware
> >   and not freeware. The licenses of each of these packages must be
> >   studied, and possibly negotiated, before the packages are included in
> >   any redistribution (e.g., in a CD-ROM).
> >
> >
> > So when you go to download a package from the "non-free" Debian repositories,
> > you're not being charged for it. :)
> >
> > Just thought I'd clear that up, since it looked like there was some
> > confusion.