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Question Regarding Permission to Distribute a Repackaged Firefox Build

Firefox Undefined
jbr replied
nBdYnl
nBdYnl

Hello everyone,

I would like to ask for clarification regarding the distribution of Firefox through third-party packaging methods.

As I understand it, Mozilla's trademarks and branding are protected, and in some cases official permission may be required to distribute Firefox under the Firefox name and branding.

Within the Ubuntu Touch community, there is a method called "Crackle" that can repackage existing applications and make them available as installable "Clickable" packages on the platform. One of the applications that has been repackaged in this way is Firefox.

However, this Firefox package is currently not available in the Ubuntu Touch software store because there is concern that distributing it may require explicit permission from Mozilla.

My question is therefore:

Does a project or community need Mozilla's permission to distribute a repackaged version of Firefox through a software store? If so, what would be the correct process for obtaining such permission? Alternatively, if the software is merely being repackaged to provide an installation method on another platform, without modifying Firefox itself, is additional permission still required?

We would appreciate any clarification regarding Mozilla's policies on redistribution, repackaging, and trademark usage in this context.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Hello everyone, I would like to ask for clarification regarding the distribution of Firefox through third-party packaging methods. As I understand it, Mozilla's trademarks and branding are protected, and in some cases official permission may be required to distribute Firefox under the Firefox name and branding. Within the Ubuntu Touch community, there is a method called "Crackle" that can repackage existing applications and make them available as installable "Clickable" packages on the platform. One of the applications that has been repackaged in this way is Firefox. However, this Firefox package is currently not available in the Ubuntu Touch software store because there is concern that distributing it may require explicit permission from Mozilla. My question is therefore: Does a project or community need Mozilla's permission to distribute a repackaged version of Firefox through a software store? If so, what would be the correct process for obtaining such permission? Alternatively, if the software is merely being repackaged to provide an installation method on another platform, without modifying Firefox itself, is additional permission still required? We would appreciate any clarification regarding Mozilla's policies on redistribution, repackaging, and trademark usage in this context. Thank you for your time and assistance.

All Replies (1)

jbr
jbr
  • Top 10 Contributor

I'd redirect you directly to https://wiki.mozilla.org/Matrix — you'll find folks with the postmarketOS experience there, and also staff aware of the history of packaging, if not directly involved.

Are there any docs behind the process? I was only able to find https://gitlab.com/debclick/uFirefox which, working with existing packages in CI, might be "fine" — but wasn't able to verify the mentioned adjustment script though.

What's the path from a CI artifact to the store listing, verification and artifact hosting? Is there any provenance kept as it moves between download surfaces? Who would be the "publisher" in the store? What changes does that distribution warrant, how they're applied, who will be responsible for the source code of that and how is access to such "supply chain" handled?

You probably want to file a bug in the Packaging bugzilla component https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/buglist.cgi?product=Firefox%20Build%20System&component=Third%20Party%20Packaging&resolution=--- or similar to have a canonical tracking ticket to refer to as well.

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