Replace IceWeasel with FireFox

[GnuHDL]

Hello!
I searched before for this issue in the forum but no result.
I've download firefox from mozilla site but I can't install it using ./install-firefox script, it doesn't run.
is it banned by Debian because of their problem with Mozilla ?
I've the 1.5 version of iceweasel and seems the 2.0 version hasn't released so my extensions doesn't work.

Thank in advance
-------------------------------------
I've Debian Etch 4.0 DVD

[mechmg93]

something is wrong. if you use etch and have it updated you should be running the latest iceweasel, not 1.5.

http://packages.debian.org/cgi-bin/search_packages.pl?keywords=iceweasel&searchon=names&subword=1&version=stable&release=all

[Azriel]

I am currently using firefox, so it has not been banned by debian, except from the repositories .

What is the error you're getting when launching the script ?

Also, i have done differently for installing firefox. The directory in the archive is ready to use, so i've just put it in /opt, and then

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ln -s /opt/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox

This way, just typing firefox in a term will open a window.

Then, if you want to do a pretty nice shortcut witch a pretty nice icon, everything you want is in /opt/firefox/icons. Just do the shortcut according to your WM.

[BioTube]

I never got why people are so obsessed with going through the trouble of installing Firefox just to get a name and an icon. I may not agree with the reasons the whole Iceweasel thing got started, but I can live with an arctic rodent. And you really should have Iceweasel 2.0.0.6 in Etch.

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apt-cache policy iceweasel

will tell you what version of the package you're running.

[Chapter 6]

I never got why people are so obsessed with going through the trouble of installing Firefox just to get a name and an icon. I may not agree with the reasons the whole Iceweasel thing got started, but I can live with an arctic rodent. And you really should have Iceweasel 2.0.0.6 in Etch.

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apt-cache policy iceweasel

will tell you what version of the package you're running.

If you've ever tried to use a website that requires Firefox or Internet Explorer, you'll understand why.

As for using Firefox just to get the icon and name, that is just wrong. I just read this morning why Mozilla protects their Firefox trademarks so vigourously. It's not that they don't want distributions using their trademarks; they really don't care who uses their trademarks. They protect their trademarks because they don't want people distributing versions of Firefox that are significantly different from the versions that Mozilla releases.

So Debian has clearly made considerable changes to the Firefox code. Therefore they are not permitted to distribute their version of Firefox under the Firefox name. Mozilla wants to be sure that anything distributed as Firefox actually is Firefox -- as they know it.

[BioTube]

The website issue is an easily fixed user agent problem. Just set 'general.useragent.extra.firefox' to 'Firefox/2.0.0.6' in about:config. And Iceweasel came about because Debian refused to use the FF icon because it was copyrighted. Mozilla insisted that Debian use either both the name and the icon or neither; Debian chose the latter.

[Chapter 6]

The website issue is an easily fixed user agent problem. Just set 'general.useragent.extra.firefox' to 'Firefox/2.0.0.6' in about:config. And Iceweasel came about because Debian refused to use the FF icon because it was copyrighted. Mozilla insisted that Debian use either both the name and the icon or neither; Debian chose the latter.

Why would Debian refuse to use the Firefox icon? If the copyright were such a big issue, Debian could have simply distributed Firefox in the Non-Free repository -- like they do with other copyrighted works.

Obviously there's more to it than just that. And if you compare Firefox to Iceweasel, there are considerable differences. These differences, I would suppose, would precipitate the requisite name change and forfeiture of Firefox trademark use. At least, according to what I've read from reliable sources.

[BioTube]

The only thing that violated the DFSG is the logo. Everything else was acceptable. Therefore, the logo was replaced with the generic one.

[rasebo]

Chapter 6, could you please share those sources with us?

[lemoicavalier]

The website issue is an easily fixed user agent problem. Just set 'general.useragent.extra.firefox' to 'Firefox/2.0.0.6' in about:config.

If you're going to to hack iceweasel, why not just install the "real" thing?

[lemoicavalier]

It all started with the logo. Then Mozilla also wanted Debian to send a copy of the firefox's packages before distribution so they could approve them. http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3634591 and http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3636651

Personally I don't have a problem with the re-naming, nor I think is silly. Firefox is a trademark, and as such they need to protect it. Use it or loose, that's how it goes.

[Chapter 6]

Then Mozilla also wanted Debian to send a copy of the firefox's packages before distribution so they could approve them.

I believe they would only have to send a copy of the package for approval if there were significant changes made that would deviate from the official Firefox release. Which is pretty much what I said earlier.

Debian could have just as easily distributed Firefox in the non-free repositories. Although it is kind of ironic, because the Debian name and logo are also trademarked. So it's somewhat hypocritical of Debian. "Do as we say, not as we do."

[plugwash]

the mozilla logos were non free under copyright as well as trademark and mozilla would not allow use of the firefox name without the logos. Mozilla also wanted a veto over all patches that debian wanted to ship including security updates.

yes sure debian could have bumped firefox to non-free and removed all the patches (mainly to do with supporting more architectures and supporting some weired text scripts afaict) that were difficult to get past mozilla but doing that would have been a far greater loss to the debian community than a name (debian never had the official firefox logos btw though after the naming conflict they moved from the mozilla supplies unofficial build logos to logos of thier own)

[Darkman]

Follow these instructions:
http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT8550165372.html
Because you're running Etch, it should work like a charm.

[craigevil]

I have both Iceweasel and Mozilla's Firefox, I have yet to come across a site that Iceweasel wouldn't work on that Firefox would, as for a site that only wants me to use IE I could care less. If it wants IE the webmaster is a moron.

If you must have Firefox this is a nice howto:
Howto: Install Firefox 2 and various plugins on Debian Etch - Linux Forums