Great explaination Stuart. On Mon, 2003-09-15 at 13:50, Stuart Jansen wrote: > 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. -- Michael L Torrie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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