"Alexander Terekhov" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > ROTFL > > http://www.fsf.org/iphone-gplv3 > > ------- > iPhone restricts users, GPLv3 frees them > > BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA-Thursday, June 28, 2007-On Friday, June 29, > not everyone in the continental U.S. will be waiting in line to purchase > a $500 iPhone. In fact, hundreds of thousands of digital aficionados > around the globe won't be standing in line at all, for June 29 marks the > release of version 3 of the GNU General Public License (GPL). Version 2 > of the GPL governs the world's largest body of free software-software > that is radically reshaping the industry and threatening the proprietary > technology model represented by the iPhone. > > The author of the the GPL is Professor Richard M. Stallman, president > and founder of the Free Software Foundation, and creator of the GNU > Project. With his first revision of the license in sixteen years, > version 3 of the GPL fights the most recent attempts to take the freedom > out of free software-most notably, version 3 attacks "Tivoization"-and > that could be a problem for Apple and the iPhone. > > Now, from China to India, from Venezuela to Brazil, from Tivos to cell > phones: Free software is everywhere and it is slowly building a > worldwide movement of users demanding that they have control over the > computers and electronic devices they own. > > Tivoization and the iPhone? > > "Tivoization" is a term coined by the FSF to describe devices that are > built with free software, but that use technical measures to prevent the > user from making modifications to the software-a fundamental freedom for > free software users-and an attack on free software that the GPLv3 will > put a stop to. > > The iPhone is leaving people questioning: Does it contain GPLed > software? What impact will the GPLv3 have on the long-term prospects for > devices like the iPhone that are built to keep their owners frustrated? > > Peter Brown, executive director of the FSF said, "Tomorrow, Steve Jobs > and Apple release a product crippled with proprietary software and > digital restrictions: crippled, because a device that isn't under the > control of its owner works against the interests of its owner. We know > that Apple has built its operating system, OS X, and its web browser > Safari, using GPL-covered work-it will be interesting to see to what > extent the iPhone uses GPLed software." > > The GNU GPL version 3 will be released at 12:00pm (EDT)-six hours before > the release of the iPhone-bringing to a close eighteen months of public > outreach and comment, in revision of the world's most popular free > software license. > > About the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL)The GNU GPL is the most > widely used free software license worldwide: almost three quarters of > all free software packages are distributed under this license. It is > not, however, the only free software license. > Richard Stallman wrote the version 1 and 2 of the GNU GPL with legal > advice from Perkins, Smith & Cohen. Version 1 was released in 1989, and > version 2 in 1991. Since 1991, free software use has increased > tremendously, and computing practices have changed, introducing new > opportunities and new threats. In 2005, Stallman began revising the GPL > for version 3. In January 2006, the FSF began a systematic process of > public review and feedback, with legal advice and organizational support > from the Software Freedom Law Center. > > About the GNU Operating System and LinuxRichard Stallman announced in > September 1983 the plan to develop a free software Unix-like operating > system called GNU. GNU is the only operating system developed > specifically for the sake of users' freedom. See > http://www.gnu.org/gnu/the-gnu-project.html. > > In 1992, the essential components of GNU were complete, except for one, > the kernel. When in 1992 the kernel Linux was re-released under the GNU > GPL, making it free software, the combination of GNU and Linux formed a > complete free operating system, which made it possible for the first > time to run a PC without non-free software. This combination is the > GNU/Linux system. For more explanation, see > http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html > > The GNU GPL is used by developers with various views, but it was written > to serve the ethical goals of the free software movement. Says Stallman, > "The GNU GPL makes sense in terms of its purpose: freedom and social > solidarity. Trying to understand it in terms of the goals and values of > open source is like trying understand a CD drive's retractable drawer as > a cupholder. You can use it for that, but that is not what it was > designed for." > > About The Free Software FoundationThe Free Software Foundation, founded > in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, > copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the > development and use of free (as in freedom) software-particularly the > GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants-and free documentation > for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical > and political issues of freedom in the use of software. Its Web site, > located at www.fsf.org, is an important source of information about > GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at > http://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA. > > Media ContactsJoshua Gay > Campaigns Manager > Free Software Foundation > 617-542-5942 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -------
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