On Mon, 2003-09-15 at 13:17, Bryan Murdock wrote: > Is it a false rumor then that he admonishes > that all software should morally use the GPL?
Well... morally his focus is actually on the user, not the developer. The user should be allowed to do anything they want to with software (and hardware). The GPL is the best of imperfect vehicles for achieving this. If a developer decides to give something to the world, the GPL prevents anyone from trying to take it away. He probably considers a BSD style license to be reckless and irresponsible (and therefor morally wrong) because is does nothing to directly preserve the original freedoms given to the user. (It does, however, create considerable economic pressure to not stray too far. I'm not entirely sure how Stallman feels about the BSD. I do know that he endorsed its use for Ogg Vorbis, but in general he seems to be opposed to it.) As far as he is concerned, trying to control people through proprietary licenses is morally wrong. Note that he is _not_ opposed to the right do so, he simple wishes that no one would. > Thank you, Stuart and others, for your clarifying points in this most > philosophical and mind expanding discusson. In the future just hold the > personal Microsoft related insults, no matter how well it rounds out and > concludes your email :) Microsoft wants to be able to take advantage of anything it comes in contact with. It is afraid of sharing and frightened that it might one day find itself in an environment where openness and cooperation are the prerequisites of entry into the largest markets. It fought with insults and slander, but lost. Now it is realizing that it will need more subtle weapons. By trying to argue that GPL software isn't Free, they are attacking the very heart and purpose of the GPL. Trying to label GPL software as anything other than Free is double talk, and you seemed to support it. "X is Free" is an incomplete thought. GPL is Free, and protects that freedom. BSD is Free, and doesn't try to protect that freedom. There are legitimate reasons to use each. -- Stuart Jansen <[EMAIL PROTECTED], AIM:StuartMJansen> Interviewer: What do you think anything[sic] is still missing from the [Linux] kernel? Andrew Morton: Groupies!
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