check in patent policy and link it from /legal

CVS version numbers

english/legal/index.wml: 1.5 -> 1.6 
english/legal/patent.wml: INITIAL -> 1.1

2 files changed, 83 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/english/legal/index.wml b/english/legal/index.wml
index 60d2fa4b80a..c20e7e6cb9c 100644
--- a/english/legal/index.wml
+++ b/english/legal/index.wml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
     </ul>
   </li>
   <li><a href="anssi">Cryptographic export/import attestation</a></li>
+  <li><a href="patent">Patent policy</a></li>
 </ul>
 
 <h2>Mailing list</h2>
diff --git a/english/legal/patent.wml b/english/legal/patent.wml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b15c46acd8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/english/legal/patent.wml
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#use wml::debian::template title="Debian Policy on Software Patents" BARETITLE="true"
+
+<pre><code>Version: 1.0
+Published: 19 February 2012
+</code></pre>
+
+
+<h1>Introduction</h1>
+
+<p>This document describes Debian's policy on patents. Debian recognizes the
+threat that patents pose to Free Software, and continues to work with others in
+the Free Software community on patent defense.</p>
+
+<p>This policy intends to provide clear and useful guidance for community
+members confronted with patent issues, so that the Debian community can
+coordinate its patent defense free from fear, uncertainty, and doubt.</p>
+
+
+<h1>Policy Statement</h1>
+
+<ol>
+
+<li><p>Debian will not knowingly distribute software encumbered by patents;
+    Debian contributors should not package or distribute software they know to
+    infringe a patent.</p></li>
+
+<li><p>Debian will not accept a patent license that is inconsistent with
+    the <a href="$(HOME)/social_contract">Debian Social Contract</a>
+    or <a href="$(HOME)/social_contract#guidelines">Debian Free Software
+    Guidelines</a>.</p></li>
+
+<li><p>Unless communications related to patents are subject to attorney-client
+    privilege, community members may be forced to produce them in a lawsuit.
+    Also, patent concerns expressed publicly may turn out to be unfounded but
+    create a good deal of fear, uncertainty, and doubt in the meantime.
+    Therefore, please refrain from posting patent concerns publicly or
+    discussing patents outside of communication with legal counsel, where they
+    are subject to attorney-client privilege.</p></li>
+
+<li><p>Patent risks affect the entire community. If you are concerned about a
+    specific patent, please do not keep it to yourself &mdash; notify legal
+    counsel.</p></li>
+
+<li><p>All communication related to specific patent risk should be directed to
+    <a href="mailto:patents@debian.org">patents@debian.org</a>, which is
+    maintained under the rules of attorney-client privilege. The risk will be
+    evaluated and any necessary response will be made directly to affected
+    parties.</p></li>
+
+</ol>
+
+
+<h1>Contact Information</h1>
+
+<p>In case you want to contact us about specific patent risks in the Debian
+archive, please mail <a href="mailto:patents@debian.org">patents@debian.org</a>
+mentioning:</p>
+
+<ul>
+<li>your name,</li>
+<li>your role in Debian,</li>
+<li>the name of the involved packages or projects,</li>
+<li>the title, number, and jurisdiction of the involved patent(s),</li>
+<li>a narrative of your concerns.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<h1>Further Information</h1>
+
+<p>For further information on patents and how they interact with community Free
+Software distributions we recommend reading our
+<a href="$(HOME)/reports/patent-faq">Community Distribution Patent Policy
+FAQ</a>, a document meant to educate Free Software developers, and especially
+distribution editors, about software patent risks.</p>
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>The Debian Project thanks
+the <a href="http://www.softwarefreedom.org">Software Freedom Law Center</a>
+(SFLC) for their legal advice on these matters.</p>
+