www/philosophy university.html

[Richard M. Stallman]

CVSROOT:        /webcvs/www
Module name:    www
Changes by:     Richard M. Stallman <rms>       09/10/18 02:57:27

Modified files:
        philosophy     : university.html 

Log message:
        Minor changes.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/philosophy/university.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.31&r2=1.32

Patches:
Index: university.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /webcvs/www/www/philosophy/university.html,v
retrieving revision 1.31
retrieving revision 1.32
diff -u -b -r1.31 -r1.32
--- university.html     24 Apr 2009 14:39:50 -0000      1.31
+++ university.html     18 Oct 2009 02:57:24 -0000      1.32
@@ -1,17 +1,18 @@
 <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
 
-<title>Releasing Free Software if you work at a University - GNU Project - 
Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>
+<title>Releasing Free Software If You Work at a University - GNU Project - 
Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>
 
 <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
    
-<h2>Releasing Free Software if you work at a University</h2>
+<h2>Releasing Free Software If You Work at a University</h2>
 
 <p>
-In the Free Software Movement, we believe computer users should have
+In the free software movement, we believe computer users should have
 the freedom to change and redistribute the software that they use.
-The &ldquo;free&rdquo; in free software refers to freedom: it means
+The &ldquo;free&rdquo; in &ldquo;free software&rdquo;
+refers to freedom: it means
 users have the freedom to run, modify and redistribute the software.
-Free software contributes to human knowledge, while non-free software
+Free software contributes to human knowledge, while nonfree software
 does not.  Universities should therefore encourage free software for
 the sake of advancing human knowledge, just as they should encourage
 scientists and other scholars to publish their work.</p>
@@ -25,13 +26,13 @@
 
 <p>
 When I started developing the <a href="/gnu/thegnuproject.html">GNU
-operating system</a> in 1984, my first step was to quit my job at MIT.
+operating system</a>, in 1984, my first step was to quit my job at MIT.
 I did this specifically so that the MIT licensing office would be
 unable to interfere with releasing GNU as free software.  I had
-planned an approach for licensing the programs in GNU that ensures
-that all modified versions must be free software as well, an approach
+planned an approach for licensing the programs in GNU that would ensure
+that all modified versions must be free software as well&mdash;an approach
 that developed into the <a href="/licenses/gpl.html">GNU General
-Public License</a> (GNU GPL), and I did not want to have to beg the
+Public License</a> (GNU GPL)&mdash;and I did not want to have to beg the
 MIT administration to let me use it.</p>
 
 <p>
@@ -41,14 +42,14 @@
 even for specifically funded projects, is to base your work on an
 existing program that was released under the GNU GPL.  Then you can
 tell the administrators, &ldquo;We're not allowed to release the
-modified version except under the GNU GPL &mdash; any other way would
+modified version except under the GNU GPL&mdash;any other way would
 be copyright infringement.&rdquo; After the dollar signs fade from
 their eyes, they will usually consent to releasing it as free
 software.</p>
 
 <p>
 You can also ask your funding sponsor for help.  When a group at NYU
-developed the GNU Ada Compiler, with funding from the U.S. Air Force,
+developed the GNU Ada Compiler, with funding from the US Air Force,
 the contract explicitly called for donating the resulting code to the
 Free Software Foundation.  Work out the arrangement with the sponsor
 first, then politely show the university administration that it is not
@@ -57,11 +58,11 @@
 along.</p>
 
 <p>
-Whatever you do, raise the issue early &mdash; certainly before the
+Whatever you do, raise the issue early&mdash;well before the
 program is half finished.  At this point, the university still needs
 you, so you can play hardball: tell the administration you will finish
-the program, make it usable, if they have agreed in writing to make it
-free software (and agreed to your choice of free software license).
+the program, make it usable, if they agree in writing to make it
+free software (and agree to your choice of free software license).
 Otherwise you will work on it only enough to write a paper about it,
 and never make a version good enough to release.  When the
 administrators know their choice is to have a free software package
@@ -80,10 +81,11 @@
 knowledge, or is its sole purpose to perpetuate itself?</p>
 
 <p>
-Whatever approach you use, it helps to have determination and adopt an
-ethical perspective, as we do in the Free Software Movement.  To treat
-the public ethically, the software should be free &mdash; as in
-freedom &mdash; for the whole public.</p>
+Whatever approach you use, it helps to approach the issue with determination
+and based on an
+ethical perspective, as we do in the free software movement.  To treat
+the public ethically, the software should be free&mdash;as in
+freedom&mdash;for the whole public.</p>
 
 <p>
 Many developers of free software profess narrowly practical reasons
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@
 If those values motivate you to develop free software, well and good,
 and thank you for your contribution.  But those values do not give you
 a good footing to stand firm when university administrators pressure
-or tempt you to make the program non-free.</p>
+or tempt you to make the program nonfree.</p>
 
 <p>
 For instance, they may argue that &ldquo;We could make it even more
@@ -104,13 +106,13 @@
 cooperation of academia, which is all (they say) you need.</p>
 
 <p>
-If you start from &ldquo;pragmatic&rdquo; values, it is hard to give a
-good reason for rejecting these dead-end proposals, but you can do it
+If you start from values of convenience alone, it is hard to make a
+good case for rejecting these dead-end proposals, but you can do it
 easily if you base your stand on ethical and political values.  What
 good is it to make a program powerful and reliable at the expense of
 users' freedom?  Shouldn't freedom apply outside academia as well as
 within it?  The answers are obvious if freedom and community are among
-your goals.  Free software respects the users' freedom, while non-free
+your goals.  Free software respects the users' freedom, while nonfree
 software negates it.</p>
 
 <p>
@@ -156,7 +158,7 @@
 <p>
 Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2009/04/24 14:39:50 $
+$Date: 2009/10/18 02:57:24 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>