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Date:      Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:46:34 -0700
From:      merlyn@stonehenge.com (Randal L. Schwartz)
To:        FreeBSD <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>
Subject:   Re: Like it or not, Theo has a point... freebsd is shipping export-restricted software in the core
Message-ID:  <86d3rnxadh.fsf@red.stonehenge.com>
In-Reply-To: <20101006174309.407e4216@scorpio> (Jerry's message of "Wed, 6 Oct 2010 17:43:09 -0400")
References:  <86fwwjyurd.fsf@red.stonehenge.com> <20101006215345.1a57c45c@gumby.homeunix.com> <86pqvnxbre.fsf@red.stonehenge.com> <20101006174309.407e4216@scorpio>

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>>>>> "Jerry" == Jerry  <freebsd.user@seibercom.net> writes:

>> But doesn't this then shift the burden to every exporter, knowing or
>> unknowing, willing or unwilling?
>> 
>> Seems like an onerous burden.  Is it well-documented?

Jerry> Are you familiar with the axiom:

Jerry> Ignorantia juris non excusat or Ignorantia legis neminem excusat

Jerry> Translated:

Jerry> "ignorance of the law does not excuse" or "ignorance of the law excuses
Jerry> no one" In other words, it is a legal principle holding that a person who
Jerry> is unaware of a law may not escape liability for violating that law
Jerry> merely because he or she was unaware of its content.

Jerry> There are exception; however, they are rare.

I understand that entirely.  Which is why it would be reasonable (and
downright ethical) to ensure that every FreeBSD integrator be made well
aware of this restriction.

It hadn't occurred to *me* for example to think that FreeBSD might be
restricted.  And I hadn't seen any prominent disclaimers.  Why rely on a
very very buried notice?

-- 
Randal L. Schwartz - Stonehenge Consulting Services, Inc. - +1 503 777 0095
<merlyn@stonehenge.com> <URL:http://www.stonehenge.com/merlyn/>;
Smalltalk/Perl/Unix consulting, Technical writing, Comedy, etc. etc.
See http://methodsandmessages.posterous.com/ for Smalltalk discussion



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