subverting "free software"

subverting "free software"

Posted Sep 12, 2007 22:06 UTC (Wed) by allesfresser (subscriber, #216)
In reply to: subverting "free software" by rfunk
Parent article: QNX source released - sort of

The Free in Free Software is an adjectival form of the word "Freedom". This is the primary and foremost objective of RMS and the FSF. What does one need in order to have Freedom wrt software? You need to be able to exercise the "Four Freedoms" (found in full in the Free Software Definition):

• Freedom 0: The freedom to run the program for any purpose.
• Freedom 1: The freedom to study and modify the program.
• Freedom 2: The freedom to copy the program so you can help your neighbor.
• Freedom 3: The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits.

The access to source code and the consequent efficiency of development, is a result of this freedom--a side effect. It is not the primary purpose (in the eyes of the FSF.)

Just trying to make that clear...

---

(Log in to post comments)