Miscellaneous > The Lounge
Why Free Software?
slave:
quote:Originally posted by Billy Gates: Mac Comrade Captain:
When you say the GPL doesn't say anything against selling software, in effect it does. the GPL, if I understand it correctly, you can change it and/or redistribute it however you like. This means that theoretically you can only sell one license of your software. Then, theoretically everyone else could get it for free. Now, I like free software. Its cool not having to pay for stuff. However, the rights you want to give people in the software world do not exist in any other world. For instance:
If I buy a brand new car, do I demand or expect to recieve the blue prints for the car? no.
With my new car can I just take it, copy it, and give the copy to someone else. Now in the real world it is impossible to do this, in the software world it is not, but I think the same idea should apply.
The only thing I'm a little mad about in proprietary software, is your not allowed to use the code or any part of the software if you find it yourself, by means of reverse engineering or something (i think). However, in my car example you can take the engine apart and find out how it works.
Basically, I think software should apply to our lives just as everything else does. Digital "stuff" shouldn't be different than physical "stuff." Unless of course the person that made the software wants to allow you to use it in ways that you wouldn't be able to do in the physical world.
Thats my personal opinion of not how free software is bad, and not how proprietary software is good, but that they are both neutral and neither one of the two kinds should be able to take the rights away from the other kind.
--- End quote ---
I will respond to all this with one question: If, someday in the future, we are able to cheaply replicate material objects such as computers and food and cars, do you think people should have the freedom to make copies of these things or not?
Considering the enormous benefits of such a technology, I think it would be disasterous not to do so. It is the same with digital technology.
[ April 24, 2003: Message edited by: Linux User #5225982375 ]
slave:
As a matter of interest, I'll list all the software I have on my computer that is non-free. I encourage others to do the same, because I'm curious ;)
1. binary nvidia drivers (yukk!)
2. warcraft 3
3. winex (actually most of winex is free but to get the damn copy protection software you have to get the prepackaged files and they aren't free)
4. neverwinter nights
5. half-life
That's it. You know, practically all of these are games, it makes me wonder if it wouldn't be a bad idea to start encouraging more Free game development, maybe with a website or something. People could donate to their favorite game project until enough funds were met to complete the game. And many people enjoy making games just for the fun of it, too. All we need is to make a warcraft clone and an rpg, and then we can have plenty of fun without using any non-free software. Look at counter-strike, it's free (except the engine part) and yet it is probably the most popular game on the net.
psyjax:
I agree in some respects with giving up your freedoms. Certain Drakonian EULA's attest to that. But, I don't see whats wrong with software with a resonable EULA.
Maybe one that says, you can copy this as many times for your own personal use but you cant spread it around to everyone you meet. Is this so bad?
I mean seriously, it is sort of a good faith mesure by the publisher to begin with concidering that their not gonna send the FBI after you if you pirat it or not (I mean imagine the cops going after everyone with a stolen programm or two, that's gotta be half of america.)
Games are a good example. Why on earth, in an industry that's driven by unique and inspired products, would you want to give it all away?
I mean Games are like artwork. It takes a person or a grupe of persons to come up with a unique vision then execute it. Not only that, but it's a programm that serves no use other than to entertain. If it was OSS, were would the money come to produce it, and what the heck would motivate anyone to buy it, when they could get it for free?
[EDIT: not that all games are non-free, but the vast majority. I think for the above reasons.]
[ April 24, 2003: Message edited by: psyjax: plain 'ol psyjax ]
slave:
quote: *EDIT*
I just thought of something. I'm gonna get flamed for it, but here it goes.
The free softwarers say that proprietary software is designed to take people's freedome away, so it should be not allowed or abolished in some way. But don't you see, now your taking their freedoms away. Its the same difference. I think all people have the "RIGHT" to do whatever they want with their software, including screw, seperate, strip of rights for that software as they wish as long as the end user agrees to it in the EULA. I guess you could say I'm a pro choice. People have the right to make proprietary software. People have the right to make free software, and no one should be able to take away the right of anyone to do those things, or anything else for that matter.
--- End quote ---
You're right insofar as that I agree that you can write software and refuse to give people access to the source code. People should have the freedom to do that, even Stallman would say that. It's a jerk-ish thing to do, but it should be allowed. What shouldn't be allowed are these harsh measures the software owners use to scare people into not sharing software. That is wrong, and infringes on the public's freedom.
slave:
quote:Originally posted by psyjax: plain 'ol psyjax:
I agree in some respects with giving up your freedoms. Certain Drakonian EULA's attest to that. But, I don't see whats wrong with software with a resonable EULA.
Maybe one that says, you can copy this as many times for your own personal use but you cant spread it around to everyone you meet. Is this so bad?
I mean seriously, it is sort of a good faith mesure by the publisher to begin with concidering that their not gonna send the FBI after you if you pirat it or not (I mean imagine the cops going after everyone with a stolen programm or two, that's gotta be half of america.)
Games are a good example. Why on earth, in an industry that's driven by unique and inspired products, would you want to give it all away?
I mean Games are like artwork. It takes a person or a grupe of persons to come up with a unique vision then execute it. Not only that, but it's a programm that serves no use other than to entertain. If it was OSS, were would the money come to produce it, and what the heck would motivate anyone to buy it, when they could get it for free?
[EDIT: not that all games are non-free, but the vast majority. I think for the above reasons.]
[ April 24, 2003: Message edited by: psyjax: plain 'ol psyjax ]
--- End quote ---
So you would agree that it's more important that certain things be Free than other things. Like operating systems for example?
When I say "Free" what I really mean is access to the source code in addition to being able to share the software. All published software should have *no* restrictions on copying, but it is up to the developer if they want to give people access to the source code or not.
Another thing, I think EULAS in all their incarnations are evil. If I write a program, and you obtain a copy, I shouldn't have the power to tell you how to use the software. No one should. Now before people start attacking the GPL, let me clarify things. The GPL isn't a EULA, it's simply something that you must accept before you can distribute the software. It is illegal to distribute it otherwise, since only the GPL gives you that power. That's what copyleft is all about. It doesn't say anything about how you can use the software, in fact, you could use it for whatever purpose you wanted.
Imagine if sandwiches came with EULAS, someone could make it illegal to eat them on certain days, or they expired after 4 hours of purchace, or you couldn't peek inside to see what kind of sauce they put in it, or attempt to add or change it with your own sauce. That would suck.
[ April 24, 2003: Message edited by: Linux User #5225982375 ]
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