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#use wml::debian::template title="Debian Position 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 position 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>The policy included below 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 — 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>
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