cbeard's blog

Mozilla and Ubuntu

As is already being reported, Ubuntu will shortly release Ubuntu 6.10 ("Edgy Eft") and it will include Mozilla Firefox 2.

Matt Zimmerman from Ubuntu has announced this on the ubuntu-devel mailing list, and anyone following their release process will have noticed this already too.  As you may know, Mozilla's relationship with the Debian project has been an issue lately, and I'm sure that this announcement raises some more questions given that Ubuntu is based upon Debian.

We've put together the following Q&A. Please do let me know should you have any other questions.

Will Ubuntu be shipping Firefox?
Yes. Ubuntu 6.10 will include Firefox 2, just released this week by Mozilla.

Is it a full and official Mozilla Firefox release?
Yes. Ubuntu will be shipping an official and supported version of Firefox to be fully branded as "Mozilla Firefox 2".

Is this the first Linux distribution to ship Mozilla Firefox?
Ubuntu will be the first Linux distribution to ship with Firefox 2.  Red Hat, Novell and other distros have been working with Mozilla and currently ship an official and supported version of Firefox 1.5. We expect that they will update to Firefox 2 in due course.

I understand that Ubuntu is based upon Debian. Is that the same or different than the IceWeasel browser that Debian is shipping with their latest release?
It's different. The patches that Debian applied to the Mozilla source code (which then resulted in their IceWeasel product) are more significant in scope than those in what Ubuntu is shipping (and branding as an official Mozilla Firefox release). Firefox in Ubuntu represents a somewhat more modest set of divergences from original Mozilla source code.

What's different in the shipping Ubuntu version of Firefox than the proposed Debian version of Firefox (that didn't ultimately ship)?
Technically, changes include fixes to the User Agent string and the feed preview, a well as addressing issues of coherent branding. More significant than any specific difference in code, however, is Ubuntu's commitment to work together with Mozilla and our community on releases going forward to insure product quality and integrity.

Why are you working with Ubuntu when you wouldn't work with Debian?
We did try to work with Debian and would prefer a situation in which we work together. Ultimately, Debian took a position that was consistent with their own policies, and not compatible with some of the exceptions to Mozilla trademark policies that we offered. While we understand and respect their decision not to work with us under our branding guidelines, Mozilla believes that brands like Firefox are important for consumer protection. In any event, Ubuntu developers are working closely with Mozilla developers to insure product quality and features that are what users expect when they use Mozilla Firefox, which means that they'll ship (and will continue to ship) a fully branded version.

Should we expect different versions of browsers in Ubuntu and Debian in the future?
We don't know. This is within the purview of both Ubuntu and Debian. We have every intention of working with Ubuntu for the foreseeable future to deliver Mozilla Firefox in same manner as we do with other Linux distros such as Red Hat and Novell.

Does the same logic apply to Thunderbird and IceDove?
Yes.

Mozilla, Trademarks and Debian

Recently there have been a number of discussion group postings, etc., about disagreements between Mozilla and Debian over the issue of the Firefox trademark and how it can be used. I wanted to address the issues that people have raised, and explain why we've taken the approach we have.

First, let’s state the topic clearly.  The question is:  how much can Debian, or anyone else, change Firefox and still call it Firefox? The question is not how much Debian or anyone else can change the application – Debian and others can modify, delete and add features as they choose.  The question is whether that different program can be distributed as “Firefox.”

Our approach to answering this question is based on several factors. One is empowering community and distribution activities. Another is having the Firefox name and logos be reliable indicators of what the program is and does for you, regardless of where you obtained it. Another is being able to stop bad actors who use the Firefox name for their own malicious purposes.

Our balance has been to allow a small set of changes to Firefox, particularly in the areas of packaging and default settings. For example, Linux distributions in particular have a set of requirements in order for them to properly integrate software like Firefox into their distributions and therefore need to make a fair number of changes to the underlying source code.  In practice, we generally approve those changes to Firefox that are minimally required to support the operating environment and that do not change the user experience, security and/or Web compatibility profile. We have been actively working to ensure that all licensed and authorized derivations bearing the Firefox name and logo maintain these characteristics. We presently have working relationships with most of the major Linux distributions, including Red Hat, Novell, and Ubuntu.

We do not allow the use of the Firefox names and logos with different product features, functions, or with different security patches.   We do this so that everyone – both the people using Firefox and the community creating, updating and supporting Firefox – know what people get when they install “Firefox.”  We also do this so that the ongoing development and testing process work for all Firefox distributions; this is not possible if different distributions have significantly different code.  We also blanace community interests through a wide range of ways to express support for Firefox.

We share a lot in common with in how Debian currently manages their own reputation through trademark law, and we recognize the Debian concern that neither party's current approach is completely compatible with the Debian Free Software Guidelines.

So we regret that it appears Debian won't be shipping something called "Firefox"; however given the particular circumstances around Firefox (as noted above) we don't believe that abandoning our current policy is an option for us. At the same time we're always open to suggestions as to how we might improve our current practices in ways that are still consistent with our overall goals.

The full text of Mozilla's trademark and licensing policy is posted at http://www.mozilla.org/licensing/