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I stumbled upon this solution and enabled it on, a now shuttered, Ubuntu server. I didn't know that multiverse package are not completely free.

As in the question to the first answer:

  1. How can a restricted/multiverse package be found?
  2. How can those packages be purchased?
Community
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2 Answers2

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Free here means free as in freedom, not free as in free beer. Non-free packages do not necessarily need to be purchased, but they put restriction on your freedom.

For example:

  • faac (multiverse): this is an open-source library that lets you listen to FAAC audio files. The problem with the FAAC format is protected by patents. From Wikipedia:

    Those intending to use this software module in hardware or software products are advised that this use may infringe existing patents.

  • nvidia-graphics-drivers-173 (restricted): this is one of the many nvidia drivers. The problem with them is that they are not open source, hence they can't be free software.

None of the packages in the restricted or multiverse repositories have a price.

By the way, Ubuntu offers software for purchase, but you can get it only with the Ubuntu Software Center, not with the official repositories.

Andrea Corbellini
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If you would like to revise your installed packages from the point of view of free software, I recommend using the vrms ("virtual Richard M. Stallman") tool (included in the standard repositories) - just install it and run as simply as

vrms

Good luck with freeing your system! ;)

crysman
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