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List:       gphoto-devel
Subject:    [gphoto-devel] Re: Introduction and Comments
From:       Richard Stallman <rms () santafe ! edu>
Date:       2000-08-15 0:55:29
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    Most linux users are never going to modify source code, and just don't
    care.  These people would rather pay for commercial software than even
    consider researching a bug.  There is no danger to open source
    software by supporting commercial options.

That sort of argument could make sense in the Open Source Movement,
but in the Free Software Movement we have different values and
different goals.  Our goal is not to accept what people think, but to
change it.  Our goal is not just to make software that gets widely
used, but to give people freedom to share and change software.  The
ultimate purpose of GNU is to spread freedom, cooperation and
community.  Of course, we want the software to be popular; it won't
accomplish anything if it isn't used.  But we must not elevate
popularity to an end in itself.

See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html for
more explanation of the difference between the two movements.

A non-free program is no contribution to the Free World.  So it is no
gain for our community if these non-free programs can use our code;
conversely, if they are unable to use gPhoto, that is their problem,
not ours.  gPhoto released under the GPL will help encoruage the
development of further, more advanced photo-related software which is
also free, that WILL contribute to our community.  See
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/pragmatic.html for more about this.

It is true that many people don't care about freedom the way we do.
They are entitled to their views, of course, but we must not let their
views become our guide.  Most users of the GNU/Linux system today have
chosen it because it is powerful, reliable, cool, and cheap; now it is
up to use to show them that their freedom is at stake here too.  If
they would would rather use non-free software than fix a bug, rather
than accepting their unwise priorities, we have to set the example of
a different way of looking at things.  We must not make GNU Project
decisions based on the values of people who don't share our concern
for freedom.

In the light of this, when people say that changing the gPhoto license
to cooperate more with non-free software will "help" gPhoto, I have to
be skeptical.  And I have to ask, "help gPhoto accomplish what goal?"


By the way, I think you are using the term "commercial" to mean the
opposite of free.  This is a grave mistake, because the two terms
actually comment on completely different questions.  A program is free
or proprietary depending on its license; it is commercial if it is
developed or supported by a business.  Those are independent
questions, and nowadays there is an increasing amount of free
commercial software.  If your company supports work on gPhoto, gPhoto
will be an example of free commercial software.

It is important to encourage more free commercial software, so let's
be careful to avoid using terminology which implies there can't be
any.

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