[BadVista Advocate] "Free" software

[Michael D. Stemle, Jr.]

On Thursday 03 May 2007 16:00:18 Russ Karlberg wrote:
> "I, personally, don't support non-Free software."
>
> Well, then you're missing out on a lot of great stuff.  How about games?  I
> enjoy computer games, as do millions of other people.   Those companies
> invest millions in them, do you expect them to give everything away?
>
> "With cars and houses, I'm free to take them apart, do my own repairs or
> modifications (or pay someone else to do it for me), sell them, give them
> away, whatever. So why would I have a problem with cars or houses?"
>
> Do you really do your own car repairs and modifications?  Modern cars are
> very complex and you need specialized training to work on each model.  Plus
> they now come with a lot of proprietary hardware, and yes, software.  So I
> am betting you do actually pay for non-free software in devices like your
> car and cell phone.
>
> "But I do have a problem with non-Free software, because its users are
> prevented from studying/fixing/modifying the source code (or hiring someone
> else to do it for them). And there are obvious security and privacy
> implications, when you run software you're intentionally prevented from
> fully understanding."
>
> There are many proprietary products in the world.  Companies invest a lot
> in creating them, of course they need to protect their intellectual
> property. In many cases, giving away the source code would allow
> competitors to steal your ideas.  Don't you think competition is a good
> thing?
>
> Obviously we have a big difference in philosophy.  I don't want to be a
> chef, mechanic, electrician, cook, etc., etc.  Have you heard of division
> of labor?  I specialize in one thing, and trade my efforts for those of
> other experts.  I pay people to do my taxes, car work, lawn mowing, house
> cleaning, etc., thus leaving time for me to enjoy my life.  Even though I
> am a programmer, I don't want to recompile my O/S!  I had to specialize in
> one area of programming to become an expert, I can't also know about video
> drivers, security, media players, etc.  I can't imagine that more than a
> handful of people really do that.  How many Windows users can we convert by
> saying "Hey, you can modify and recompile your operating system!"  I think
> most people just want to buy something that works.
>
> "The world will always need new software and people to write, maintain and
> improve it. Those are services for which people/businesses are willing to
> pay."
>
> Ok, so are you just saying that software should be freely distributable and
> include all source code, but companies can still charge for it?  That's
> better, but there is still the problem of intellectual property.  I don't
> see why just the software industry is being singled out for this treatment.
> The computer you're using has lots of chips in it with proprietary and
> non-free software.  I don't think Intel and AMD are going to give you their
> code and trade secrets.
>
> I don't see the appeal of your message to 99% of the population who use
> computers.
>
>
>
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Ah, "Intellectual Property," the farce behind it all.  I suggest you look at 
what the Free Software Foundation (the organization behind BadVista) has to 
say about "Intellectual Property."  Here, have a link: 
http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/not-ipr.xhtml

I suggest you take a look around that site.  It's got some interesting stuff 
on there, and much of it is the ethical foundation of Free Software in 
general.

-- 
~ Michael D. Stemle, Jr. <><
(A)bort, (R)etry, (I)nfluence with large hammer
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