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List:       gphoto-devel
Subject:    Re: [gphoto-devel] Re: Introduction and Comments
From:       Scott <scottf () gphoto ! net>
Date:       2000-08-24 16:00:15
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Richard Stallman wrote:
> 
>     I still vote for LGPL since I don't want to make the decision for the
>     person linking against the library. I'll take freedom of choice over
>     free software.
> 
> Only free software gives the users freedom of choice.  With
> proprietary software, the owner dominates the users.  This is why
> software should be free, and why it is important to defend our
> community's freedom using copyleft and other legitimate ethical means.

my only issue with this statement is the use of the word "ethical". it
just seems contradictory to call it ethical when we would effectively be
*forcing* other people to do something they wouldn't normally do.  IMO,
ethical would be more along the lines of not imposing your ideals onto
other people and to also not attack other ways of doing things.

i do agree that free software benefits the community and adds to the
overall freedom of users, but i don't truly agree with the means that
are used to "get there". People should *want* to free up their software
because they recognize the inherent power and agree with the Free
software philosophy. Forcing them to do so comes off as more of a
strong-arm technique. It should be a choice.

You could argue that they use strong-arm techniques all the time in
day-to-day business, but if that is considered a bad thing, then why
brings ourselves to that level? Since the idea of Free software is more
noble in nature than the traditional software model, shouldn't it be
able to stand on it's own?

note that i am reasoning through this in order to get a better
understanding of "the big picture" for myself and for the other
developers. i have received several emails saying they find this
discussion very helpful in making their licensing decisions.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-------------------- - - -   -    -
Scott Fritzinger		email: scottf@gphoto.net
gPhoto Project			  icq: 15884777
www.gphoto.net

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