Open source v. Free software [LWN.net]

Open source v. Free software

Posted Jul 2, 2005 4:28 UTC (Sat) by bojan (subscriber, #14302)
Parent article: ESR: 'We Don't Need the GPL Anymore' (O'ReillyNet)

ESR: "That is, if we really believe that open source is a superior system of production, and therefore that it will drive out closed source in a free market, then why do we think we need infectious licensing? What do we think we gain by punishing defectors?"

Well, do we _all_ believe it? I would think that FSF in particular (i.e. the creators of the GPL) don't think that (or don't find it important). They want guarantees that _users_ won't get hurt. Ever. They want - well - freedom.

Some developer groups don't share that view (or at least it is not in their policies), such as Apache Foundation, and they make good code too. Nothing wrong with either, of course. However, the "we don't need the GPL" argument is completely misguided as it doesn't take into account the basic premise - people that are "in charge" of the GPL don't share ESR's views at all. So, they sure do need the GPL and whoever believes freedom is important (not just the production model) still needs the GPL or the closest equivalent.

For a smart guy, ESR sometimes doesn't make sense at all.

(Log in to post comments)

Open source v. Free software

Posted Jul 2, 2005 6:42 UTC (Sat) by philips (guest, #937) [Link]

Judging by silliness of what he is saying this days, I can tell he is reaching maturity level of RMS.

Thou I do not agree most of the times with both - ESR & RMS - I'd rather have them in
community and have them talking. This is the silence which kills communities, not drunk
speeches.

P.S. I'd rather say, this is ESR's call against RMS. And it is good as any of RMS' calls against
proprietary licenses. Thou RMS normally causes much less noise.

rms not "immature"

Posted Jul 3, 2005 0:26 UTC (Sun) by allesfresser (subscriber, #216) [Link]

I would hardly call Richard immature. Infuriating sometimes, yes. But not immature. Just because he's very narrowly focused on a few things which matter very much to him doesn't make him immature. On the contrary: the firmness of his commitment to freedom through 20 years of struggle makes me admire his maturity. Perhaps he isn't as good at dealing with people as some others. (I would probably be a little snippy myself if I had to deal with some of the epithets that have been thrown at him.) But social smoothness is not the sum total of maturity.