The next chapter in the Merkey saga [LWN.net]

The next chapter in the Merkey saga

Posted Jun 22, 2005 21:55 UTC (Wed) by yodermk (subscriber, #3803)
In reply to: The next chapter in the Merkey saga by yodermk
Parent article: The next chapter in the Merkey saga

Also, he claims (25 & 26) that articles by Perens and Jones are read by "hundreds of millions of people."

Let's see, that's maybe 4-10% of the world's population!

Perens and Jones write some good stuff, but I don't think their writings are almost as popular as the Bible...

"38. The Open Source Movement (OSS) is a globally distributed community of independent individuals who promote development of open source computer technology under the GPL. The OSS also includes the majority of the members of the Linux Community."

Really, just the GPL? OSS folks don't think there are any other good licenses out there?

"39. Among other things, the OSS advocates that all computer technology should be free, and should be accessible to all people around the world at no charge and no cost."

LOL, he just described Stallman's FSF, the archenemy of OSS!

I am starting to think that this is all a big hoax to get people riled up. Actually filing this with a court would be an unprecedented display of human stupidity.

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The next chapter in the Merkey saga

Posted Jun 23, 2005 0:11 UTC (Thu) by rgmoore (✭ supporter ✭, #75) [Link]

LOL, he just described Stallman's FSF, the archenemy of OSS!

That doesn't do a very good job of describing Stallman's views, either. RMS has quite specifically that Free Software is a matter of freedom, not of price. In the early days of GNU, RMS earned his living by selling copies of GNU software, the FSF still raises funds by distributing GNU software, and RMS encourages businesses to make money that way. Some RMS quotes on the matter (from Selling Free Software).

Actually we encourage people who redistribute free software to charge as much as they wish or can. ...
Since free software is not a matter of price, a low price isn't more free, or closer to free. So if you are redistributing copies of free software, you might as well charge a substantial fee and make some money. Redistributing free software is a good and legitimate activity; if you do it, you might as well make a profit from it. ...
Distributing free software is an opportunity to raise funds for development. Don't waste it!

(All emphasis is in the original.) Those sure don't sound like quotes from somebody who thinks that it's immoral to charge money for software.