Free Software friendly patent pools

Free Software friendly patent pools

RMS initially saw copyright as something negative, until he realized he can also use copyright to protect his own ideals and invented copyleft

s/his own ideals/end-user freedom/

Without this distinction, he'd not be justified in saying that copyright can be used for good; he'd be another jerk using copyright to make others do what he wants them to.

The goal of copyright and patents is "[t]o promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts" (http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92preface.html) and enhancing end-user freedom through copyright achieves this through:

1. Sharing one's own Progress in Science and the useful Arts
2. Requiring others to share their Progress if they wish to use yours
3. Minimizing the impact on the general citizenry who are giving up their natural ability to copy an idea or work in exchange for your Progress.

In addition, one may note his political stances (e.g. on the US and Israeli governments) and contrast them with the political stance of the GPL, which is none. The GPL is explicitly not an end-user license agreement and makes no requirements regarding what you may or may not use it for.