[DotGNU]software should not have owners (was Re: paying for free software (was Re: `freeing' proprietary software))

[S11001001]

Angel "Java" Lopez wrote:
> For me, [author control of software] is not unethical. It is a choice
> of the author. And now, with Free Software, it is a choice of the
> user, to accept the author software or reject it in complete. It is
> unethical to obtain a software in a way contrary to author rights
> (this is my point of view). And in general, the control of software
> usage by the author, it's only to prevent the simultaneous multiple
> use, but nothing else.... It's not an Orwellian control.... ;-)

Free software is not a system to give power to an author, it is a system
of giving the users an equal footing in the software.

And as for "author rights", probably my favorite FS essay from RMS; I 
printed this one out, even though I hate printers; I agree with it 
completely; you may notice the "sharing proprietary software" paragraph 
debated earlier in this thread:

"Why Software Should Not Have Owners"
<http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-free.html>

Anyway, if you feel that author rights are important, then that is a
fundamental disagreement, and arguing further about it won't solve
anything.

--
Stephen Compall
DotGNU `Contributor' -- http://www.dotgnu.org

Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,
distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it
refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

    * The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
    * The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your
    needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition
    for this.
    * The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
    (freedom 2).
    * The freedom to improve the program, and release your
    improvements to the public, so that the whole community
    benefits. (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a
    precondition for this.
        -- RMS, "The Free Software Definition"