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On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 19:40:15 +0000 Tom Brough <tombrough@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I would just like to get a cross section of views as to what we all > think the purpose of free software is. To foster freedom, increase the freedom to modify and improve software to suit different needs. > My personal take is that it is software that sets us and itself free > via the GPL (and others), and should be distributed as freely and as > frequently as possible to anyone who is interested. I believe that > free software takes on this purpose through distribution. Its power > comes through distribution, the more distributed it becomes the more > powerful it becomes. Yes, but distribution cannot replace modification - both are needed, simultaneously. > Some comments I have seen recently seem to run counter to this view, > which I thought (my interpretation) was the essence of the GPL. The GPL is not designed to bring down Microsoft - anyone is welcome to distribute software under the GPL, even Microsoft. Money can be made from free software, ask Red Hat. The purpose of free software, to me, is to eliminate proprietary software, digital rights management, software patents and all other methods of restriction of the inalienable freedom to modify and distribute free software. That is an important distinction - I am not against Microsoft, I am implacably opposed to proprietary software, software patents and oxymorons like IP, DRM etc. As long as Microsoft propose and perpetuate these methods, I am opposed to them too but with the constant hope that they will see sense. One day . . -- Neil Williams ============= http://www.data-freedom.org/ http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/ http://www.linux.codehelp.co.uk/
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