There are many bugs against the Debian X packages, and many of them are old and have long ceased to be actual bugs. Here's the protocol for dealing with them:
- Make sure the package the bug is assigned to is correct. Change it if not.
- Write the bug submitter and ask them if the bug is still a problem.
To keep the threading download the mbox file using bts show --mbox bugnumber (with bts from devscripts) and open or import the downloaded mbox file ~/.devscripts_cache/bts/bugnumber.mbox with your mail user agent and answer to the corresponding message replying to bugnumber-submitter@bugs.debian.org (the submitter, bugnumber@bugs.debian.org) and all other discussion participants.
If this does not work on your system, use the bugnumber-submitter@bugs.debian.org email address in order to have your mail sent to both the submitter and the bug itself. Ask them if the bug is still a problem.
- If they reply that the bug is still a problem, then leave the bug open.
- If they reply that the bug is not a problem, or that they can no longer test the bug due to lack of hardware, close the bug with an invitation to reopen it from anyone still experiencing the bug.
- If there is no reply, wait two weeks and close the bug if there is still no reply.
- If the email address bounces, close the bug with an invitation to reopen it.
Please use the documentation at http://bugs.debian.org to properly use the BTS.
You might also want to look at the more general BugTriage page.