IceWeasel

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IceWeasel
(a proposed icon)
Developer:	GNU
Latest release:	Based on Firefox 1.5.0.7 / Sep 14, 2006
OS:	Linux
Use:	Web browser
License:	MPL/GPL/LPGL tri license
Website:	Homepage of GNU Gnuzilla and IceWeasel

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IceWeasel is a derivation of the Mozilla Firefox web browser for GNU/Linux. Similar to Gnuzilla, it is a GNU project to provide a version of Firefox which is wholly free software. It removes the artwork and plugins^[1] classified as non-free by free software advocates. IceWeasel is a fork of Firefox, but its maintainers plan to continue to synchronize with upstream releases in the future. The current release is based on the 1.5.0.7 version of Mozilla Firefox^[2].

1 Features
2 History
3 Downloads available
- 3.1 Gnuzilla
- 3.2 Debian
4 Licensing
5 Future development
6 Gallery
7 See also
8 Notes
9 External links

[edit] Features

Notable differences from the official Firefox release:

Contains only free software - see Licensing below
- Replacement of the proprietary artwork with free artwork
- Removal of the proprietary talkback crash reporting system (due to its non-free "binary only distribution" licensing)
- Use of a plugin finder service that offers only free plugins
Added privacy features - protection from:
- 3rd party zero-length image files resulting in 3rd party cookie (web bugs) ^[3]. Note that in Firefox 1.0 and 1.5 3rd party cookies can be disabled completely via the UI. However the UI option was removed in 2.0.
- URL redirection (warning only)^[4]

[edit] History

[edit] First release

The first IceWeasel release was based on the 1.5.0.4^[5] version of Firefox. There was no release based on Firefox 1.5.0.5 or 1.5.0.6. The current version of IceWeasel is 1.5.0.7 as of 11/16/2006.

[edit] Origins of the name

The name IceWeasel was coined to refer to Mozilla Firefox during a long debate within the Debian Project in 2004 and 2005. Mozilla enforces trademarks vigorously and claims the right to deny the use of the name "Firefox" to unofficial builds^[6]. Distributions that do not have this permission must compile the Firefox source with an option enabled that gives Firefox a different name and does not use the official logo or other artwork^[6]. Debian was given permission to use the trademarks, and adopted the Firefox name^[7]. However, because the artwork in Firefox has a proprietary license which is not compatible with the Debian Free Software Guidelines, the substituted logo had to remain^[8].

The name was coined by Nathanael Nerode as a parody of "Firefox": Fire to Ice and Fox to Weasel^[9].

[edit] Mozilla proprietary artwork controversy

In February of 2006, Mike Connor of Mozilla wrote to Debian and informed them that the Firefox name was as protected as the artwork^[10]. Thus, Debian would have to run each change they made to Firefox past Mozilla to continue using the name. While the conversation seemed to end, it started again in September 2006. Debian had a previous agreement that allowed them to use the Firefox name. On September 18, 2006, Mike Connor told Debian that they must not only run the code changes past Mozilla but must also use the logo to use the Firefox name. But Debian could not use the logo because of the Debian Free Software Guidelines.

The "IceWeasel" name was revived in the Debian community as a possible name to give the rebranded version of Firefox. The IceWeasel used in Etch will not be the GNU application of the same name but a rebranded Firefox created by Debian.^[11]
Separately^[11] in August 2005^[12], the Gnuzilla project adopted the Iceweasel name for a Firefox distribution ^[12]using free artwork, which Debian plans to support^[11]. Iceweasel is a full fork of Firefox, rather than a renamed package. This will allow free software distributions a single point upstream for development. Debian intends to remain synchronized to the Mozilla Foundation's Firefox releases.^[13]

[edit] Downloads available

[edit] Gnuzilla

IceWeasel is available as a free download for the 32-bit, i386 architecture. Both binaries and source are available, though the current build is available only for GNU/Linux.

[edit] Debian

IceWeasel will be available in Debian apt initially in Debian unstable. (IceDove is already in Debian unstable since 14 October 2006)
The first Debian release containing IceWeasel is currently expected^[14] to be included in Debian Etch, the next release of the Debian GNU/Linux operating system. This is scheduled for December 2006.