www/philosophy x.html

[Richard M. Stallman]

CVSROOT:        /webcvs/www
Module name:    www
Changes by:     Richard M. Stallman <rms>       09/12/15 15:50:20

Modified files:
        philosophy     : x.html 

Log message:
        Minor cleanups.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/philosophy/x.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.19&r2=1.20

Patches:
Index: x.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /webcvs/www/www/philosophy/x.html,v
retrieving revision 1.19
retrieving revision 1.20
diff -u -b -r1.19 -r1.20
--- x.html      12 Mar 2008 08:17:36 -0000      1.19
+++ x.html      15 Dec 2009 15:50:08 -0000      1.20
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 To copyleft or not to copyleft?  That is one of the major
 controversies in the free software community.  The idea of copyleft is
 that we should fight fire with fire&mdash;that we should use copyright
-to make sure our code stays free.  The GNU GPL is one example of a
-copyleft license.</p>
+to make sure our code stays free.  The GNU General Public License (GNU
+GPL) is one example of a copyleft license.</p>
 
 <p>
 Some free software developers prefer non-copyleft distribution.
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@
 
 <p>
 Why did the X Consortium adopt this policy?  It had to do with their
-definition of success.  The X Consortium defined success as
+conception of success.  The X Consortium defined success as
 popularity&mdash;specifically, getting computer companies to use the X
 Window System.  This definition put the computer companies in the
-driver's seat.  Whatever they wanted, the X Consortium had to help
+driver's seat: whatever they wanted, the X Consortium had to help
 them get it.</p>
 
 <p>
@@ -60,12 +60,12 @@
 But self-sacrifice is not the issue: tossing away the defense that
 copyleft provides, which protects the freedom of the whole community,
 is sacrificing more than yourself.  Those who granted the X
-Consortium's request entrusted the community's future to the good will
+Consortium's request entrusted the community's future to the goodwill
 of the X Consortium.</p>
 
 <p>
 This trust was misplaced.  In its last year, the X Consortium made a
-plan to restrict the forthcoming X11R6.4 release so that it will not
+plan to restrict the forthcoming X11R6.4 release so that it would not
 be free software.  They decided to start saying no, not only to
 proprietary software developers, but to our community as well.</p>
 
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
 
 <p>
 [In September 1998, several months after X11R6.4 was released with
-non-free distribution terms, the Open Group reversed its decision and
+nonfree distribution terms, the Open Group reversed its decision and
 rereleased it under the same non-copyleft free software license that
 was used for X11R6.3.  Thank you, Open Group.]
 </p>
@@ -98,11 +98,11 @@
 <p>
 Even if the X Consortium and the Open Group had never planned to
 restrict X, someone else could have done it.  Non-copylefted software
-is vulnerable from all directions; it lets anyone make a non-free
+is vulnerable from all directions; it lets anyone make a nonfree
 version dominant, if he will invest sufficient resources to add
 significantly important features using proprietary code.  Users who
 choose software based on technical characteristics, rather than on
-freedom, could easily be lured to the non-free version for short-term
+freedom, could easily be lured to the nonfree version for short-term
 convenience.</p>
 
 <p>
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
 less than the harm done by a fork in development.  So it is better to
 work with the XFree86 group and not copyleft our changes on these
 programs.  Likewise for utilities such as xset and xrdb, which are
-close to the core of X, and which do not need major improvements.  At
+close to the core of X and do not need major improvements.  At
 least we know that the XFree86 group has a firm commitment to
 developing these programs as free software.</p>
 
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
 
 <p>
 In case anyone feels the pressure exerted by the criteria for
-inclusion in the X distributions, the GNU project will undertake to
+inclusion in the X distributions, the GNU Project will undertake to
 publicize copylefted packages that work with X.  If you would like to
 copyleft something, and you worry that its omission from the X
 distribution will impede its popularity, please ask us to help.</p>
@@ -147,10 +147,11 @@
 program with copyleft, once you call the bluff.</p>
 
 <p>
-Friends, free software developers, don't repeat a mistake.  If we do
-not copyleft our software, we put its future at the mercy of anyone
+Friends, free software developers, don't repeat old mistakes!  If we
+do not copyleft our software, we put its future at the mercy of anyone
 equipped with more resources than scruples.  With copyleft, we can
-defend freedom, not just for ourselves, but for our whole community.</p>
+defend freedom, not just for ourselves, but for our whole
+community.</p>
 
 </div>
 <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
@@ -184,7 +185,7 @@
 <p>
 Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2008/03/12 08:17:36 $
+$Date: 2009/12/15 15:50:08 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>