www/philosophy government-free-software.html

[Richard M. Stallman]

CVSROOT:        /web/www
Module name:    www
Changes by:     Richard M. Stallman <rms>       13/05/21 20:16:47

Modified files:
        philosophy     : government-free-software.html 

Log message:
        Add bold headings for readability.

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

Patches:
Index: government-free-software.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /web/www/www/philosophy/government-free-software.html,v
retrieving revision 1.31
retrieving revision 1.32
diff -u -b -r1.31 -r1.32
--- government-free-software.html       31 Mar 2013 18:05:09 -0000      1.31
+++ government-free-software.html       21 May 2013 20:16:46 -0000      1.32
@@ -41,38 +41,45 @@
 corporations controlled by the state or established with special
 privileges or functions by the state.</p>
 
+<h3>Education</h3>
 <p>The most important policy concerns education, since that shapes
 the future of the country:</p>
 
 <ul>
-<li>Educational activities, or at least those of state entities, must
+<li><b>Teach only free software</b><br />
+Educational activities, or at least those of state entities, must
 teach only free software (thus, they should never lead students to use
 a nonfree program), and should teach the civic reasons for insisting
 on free software.  To teach a nonfree program is to teach dependence,
 which is contrary to the mission of the school.</li>
 </ul>
 
+<h3>The State and the Public</h3>
 <p>Also crucial are state policies that influence what software
 individuals and organizations use:</p>
 
 <ul>
-<li><p>Laws and public sector practices must be changed so that they never
+<li><p><b>Never require nonfree programs</b><br />
+Laws and public sector practices must be changed so that they never
 require or pressure individuals or organizations to use a nonfree
 program.  They should also discourage communication and publication
 practices that imply such consequences (including
 <a href="http://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm";>Digital
 Restrictions Management</a>).</p></li>
 
-<li><p>Whenever a state entity distributes software to the public,
+<li><p><b>Distribute only free software</b><br />
+Whenever a state entity distributes software to the public,
 including programs included in or specified by its web pages, it must
 be distributed as free software, and must be capable of running on a
 platform containing exclusively free software.</p></li>
 
-<li><p>State entity web sites and network services must be designed so
+<li><p><b>State web sites</b><br />
+State entity web sites and network services must be designed so
 that users can use them, without disadvantage, by means of free
 software exclusively.</p></li>
 
-<li><p>State entities must use only file formats and communication
+<li><p><b>Free formats and protocols</b><br />
+State entities must use only file formats and communication
 protocols that are well supported by free software, preferably with
 published specifications.  (We do not state this in terms of
 &ldquo;standards&rdquo; because it should apply to nonstandardized interfaces 
as
@@ -81,7 +88,8 @@
 codecs, and public libraries must not distribute works with Digital
 Restrictions Management.</p></li>
 
-<li><p>Sale of computers must not require purchase of a proprietary
+<li><p><b>Untie computers from licenses</b><br />
+Sale of computers must not require purchase of a proprietary
 software license.  The seller should be required by law to offer the
 purchaser the option of buying the computer without the proprietary
 software and without paying the license fee.</p>
@@ -94,41 +102,48 @@
 </li>
 </ul>
 
+<h3>Computational Sovereignty</h3>
 <p>Several policies affect the computational sovereignty of the state.
 State entities must maintain control over their computing, not cede
 control to private hands.  These points apply to all computers,
 including smartphones.</p>
 
 <ul>
-<li><p>State entities must migrate to free software, and must not install,
+<li><p><b>Migrate to free software</b><br />
+State entities must migrate to free software, and must not install,
 or continue using, any nonfree software except under a temporary
 exception.  Only one agency should have the authority to grant these
 temporary exceptions, and only when shown compelling reasons.  This
 agency's goal should be to reduce the number of exceptions to zero.</p></li>
 
-<li><p>When a state entity pays for development of a computing solution,
+<li><p><b>Develop free IT solutions</b><br />
+When a state entity pays for development of a computing solution,
 the contract must require it be delivered as free software and be
 capable of running on a 100% free environment.  All contracts must
 require this, so that if the developer does not comply with this
 requirement, the work cannot be paid for.</p></li>
 
-<li><p>When a state entity buys or leases computers, it must choose among
+<li><p><b>Choose computers for free software</b><br />
+When a state entity buys or leases computers, it must choose among
 the models that come closest, in their class, to being capable of
 running without any proprietary software.  The state should maintain,
 for each class of computers, a list of the models authorized based on
 this criterion.  Models available to both the public and the state
 should be preferred to models available only to the state.</p></li>
 
-<li><p>The state should negotiate actively with manufacturers to bring
+<li><p><b>Negotiate with manufacturers</b><br />
+The state should negotiate actively with manufacturers to bring
 about the availability in the market (to the state and the public) of
 suitable hardware products, in all pertinent product areas, that
 require no proprietary software.</p></li>
 
-<li><p>The state should invite other states to negotiate collectively with
+<li><p><b>Unite with other states</b><br />
+The state should invite other states to negotiate collectively with
 manufacturers about suitable hardware products.  Together they will
 have more clout.</p></li>
 </ul>
 
+<h3>Computational Sovereignty II</h3>
 <p>The computational sovereignty (and security) of the state includes
 control over the computers that do the state's work.  This requires
 avoiding <a href="/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html">
@@ -137,7 +152,8 @@
 that diminish the state control over its computing.  Therefore,</p>
 
 <ul>
-<li>Every computer that the state uses must belong to or be leased by
+<li><b>State must control its computers</b><br />
+Every computer that the state uses must belong to or be leased by
 the same branch of government that uses it, and that branch must not
 cede to outsiders the right to decide who has physical access to the
 computer, who can do maintenance (hardware or software) on it, or
@@ -146,25 +162,30 @@
 the state is the occupant (either as owner or as tenant).</li>
 </ul>
 
-<p>One other policy affects free and nonfree software development:</p>
+<h3>Influence Development</h3>
+<p>State policy affects free and nonfree software development:</p>
 
 <ul>
-<li><p>The state should encourage developers to create or enhance free
+<li><p><b>Encourage free</b><br />
+The state should encourage developers to create or enhance free
 software and who make it available to the public, e.g. by tax breaks
 and other financial incentive.  Contrariwise, no such incentives
 should be granted for development, distribution or use of nonfree
 software.</p></li>
 
-<li><p>In particular, proprietary software developers should not be able to
+<li><p><b>Don't encourage nonfree</b><br />
+In particular, proprietary software developers should not be able to
 &ldquo;donate&rdquo; copies to schools and claim a tax write-off for the 
nominal
 value of the software.  Proprietary software is not legitimate in a
 school.</p></li>
 </ul>
 
+<h3>E-waste</h3>
 <p>Freedom should not imply e-waste:</p>
 
 <ul>
-<li><p>Many modern computers are designed to make it impossible to
+<li><p><b>Replaceable software</b><br />
+Many modern computers are designed to make it impossible to
 replace their preloaded software with free software.  Thus, the only
 way to free them is to junk them.  This practice is harmful to
 society.</p>
@@ -224,7 +245,7 @@
 
 <p>Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2013/03/31 18:05:09 $
+$Date: 2013/05/21 20:16:46 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>