[kde] [Bug 374808] New: Dependency on QtWebEngine might make KDE non-(free/libre)

[Adonay Felipe Nogueira]

https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=374808

            Bug ID: 374808
           Summary: Dependency on QtWebEngine might make KDE
                    non-(free/libre)
           Product: kde
           Version: unspecified
          Platform: unspecified
                OS: All
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: major
          Priority: NOR
         Component: general
          Assignee: unassigned-bugs at kde.org
          Reporter: adfeno at openmailbox.org
  Target Milestone: ---

Hi KDE,

I'm a free/libre software activist from Brazil, and I have an important
suggestion to make:

Over the years, the KDE project has contributed significantly to the spread of
the free/libre software movement's goals, while also keeping the project's
resources a friendly and informative place for every contributor, and for this
purpose, you all have my gratitude.

However, recently, we free/libre software activists became aware of an issue
which can change the status of KDE from free/libre software to non-(free/libre)
software.

The issue, to put it simply, is that with the rescent rise of QtWeEngine, and
since QtWebEngine "is" the entire [non-(free/libre) Chromium] platform (words
taken from Qt Wiki), and since more and more components of the KDE project
become dependent on QtWebEngine, this creates a chain reaction which affects
the KDE project if not acted upon in time.

I have taken the time to draw some suggestions, although they were in no way
checked against any other context or variable that might make them doable or
not. Here are the suggestions:

- Contribute to the project responsible for QtWebEngine ways to completely
remove the non-(free/libre) parts of the platform before releasing the complete
and corresponding source files to the general public.

- Contribute to the Chromium project ways to completely remove the
non-(free/libre) parts of the platform before releasing the complete and
corresponding source files to the general public.

- Make a policy against usage of QtWebEngine in KDE project or subprojects.

- Fork either QtWebEngine or Chromium and completely remove the
non-(free/libre) parts of the platform before releasing the complete and
corresponding source files to the general public.

Of course, reporting this issue without leaving a basis of evidence isn't
polite, so here is a link to a discussion which also has other links to more
detailed reports:
<https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/libreplanet-discuss/2017-01/msg00001.html>,
feel free to subscribe to the related mailing list and ask for input there.

As a final congratulation note: I thank you for your work once again, and I
believe we can solve this issue so as to make good digital inclusion towards a
free/libre digital society, specially here in Brazil, where most free/libre
software related events always have a talk or panel related to the KDE project.


Respectfully, Adonay.

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