Ubuntu technical committee vote not to install non-free software by default

On April 9, March 24, the Ubuntu Technical Committee voted whether to allow the default installation of non-free software. The result was 0 votes in favor, and 5 votes in opposition. The Board also agreed that the checkbox in the default installer is equivalent to the default software installation. This decision is contrary to the established Ubuntu policy. A user has submitted a bug and requested to install Flash by default to improve user experience and support YouTube. Ubuntutechnicalboard: nonon-freesoftwarebydefault [PostedM

On April 9, March 24, the Ubuntu Technical Committee voted whether to allow the default installation of non-free software. The result was 0 votes in favor, and 5 votes in opposition. The Board also agreed that the checkbox in the default installer is equivalent to the default software installation. This decision is contrary to the established Ubuntu policy. A user has submitted a bug and requested to install Flash by default to improve user experience and support YouTube.

Ubuntu technical board: no non-free software by default
[Posted March 28,201 1 by corbet]
From: Scott James Remnant
To: ubuntu-devel-announce-AT-lists.ubuntu.com
Subject: Minutes from the Technical Board meeting, 2011-03-24
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:07:57-0700
Message-ID:
Archive-link: Article, Thread

= Attendance =

* Scott James Remnant (chair)
* Colin Watson
* Kees Cook
* Martin Pitt
* Matt Zimmerman

= Apologies =

* Mark Shuttleworth

= Notes =

= Proposal to install ubuntu-restricted-* by default =

Http://launchpad.net/bugs/723831

The Technical Board voted unanimously against (0 for, 5 against)
Including non-free software in the distribution, agreeing that
Checking a box in the installer by default is equivalent to simply
Including the software in the default installation. This wowould have
Gone against Ubuntu's long standing policy that the only concession is
For hardware drivers as detailed
Http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu/licensing

= Ubuntu-devel moderation =

Colin Watson agreed to follow up on the problem of slower moderation
Of the ubuntu-devel mailing list, either by encouraging more members
Or discussing with the patch pilots how to ensure changes do not get
Stuck.