Packaging unmodified Firefox binaries in a closed product

kondraay

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Aug 18, 2009, 8:30:17 AM8/18/09

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Hi
I'm interested if the distribution of unmodified Firefox binaries
inside our product installer is allowed by Mozilla License.
What are the requirements the end software must meet - should the
installer\readme contain links to the Firefox site, links to the
Firefox sources, something more?

The reason to package the browser is to have the specific version
tested with our software.

Thanks

Frank Hecker

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Aug 18, 2009, 11:34:03 AM8/18/09

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kondraay wrote:
> I'm interested if the distribution of unmodified Firefox binaries
> inside our product installer is allowed by Mozilla License.
> What are the requirements the end software must meet - should the
> installer\readme contain links to the Firefox site, links to the
> Firefox sources, something more?

If you want to use the Firefox logo (which I presume you do) then you
should contact part...@mozilla.com.

Frank

--
Frank Hecker
hec...@mozillafoundation.org

kondraay

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Aug 19, 2009, 2:03:51 AM8/19/09

to Frank Hecker

Thank you, Frank

Jean-Marc Desperrier

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Aug 25, 2009, 5:55:36 AM8/25/09

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Frank Hecker wrote:
> kondraay wrote:
>> I'm interested if the distribution of unmodified Firefox binaries
>> inside our product installer is allowed by Mozilla License.
>> What are the requirements the end software must meet - should the
>> installer\readme contain links to the Firefox site, links to the
>> Firefox sources, something more?
>
> If you want to use the Firefox logo (which I presume you do) then you
> should contact part...@mozilla.com.

http://www.mozilla.org/foundation/trademarks/distribution-policy.html
"You may distribute unchanged official binaries downloaded from
mozilla.com to anyone in any way subject to governing law, without
receiving any further permission from Mozilla Corporation"
"we request that you make available the latest stable version"
"you are not required to ship the source code along with the binaries."

Now, if they don't include the official mozilla installer, and use the
official binaries but packaged inside their own installer, the situation
gets more fuzzy.

I've just checked that mozilla.com only provides the installer on
windows, no zip files, so it's probably a correct interpretation to say
that only "Firefox Setup 3.5.2.exe" (at this point in time, exact
version changes frequently) may be redistributed freely, and not the
files it contains.

Frank Hecker

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Aug 26, 2009, 12:05:04 PM8/26/09

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Jean-Marc Desperrier wrote:
> Now, if they don't include the official mozilla installer, and use the
> official binaries but packaged inside their own installer, the situation
> gets more fuzzy.

Correct, that's exactly why I referred them to part...@mozilla.com,
because the public policy doesn't definitively address this case.

> I've just checked that mozilla.com only provides the installer on
> windows, no zip files, so it's probably a correct interpretation to say
> that only "Firefox Setup 3.5.2.exe" (at this point in time, exact
> version changes frequently) may be redistributed freely, and not the
> files it contains.

This is my interpretation as well.