Re: Open source - Free software

[David Kastrup]

"Alfred M. Szmidt" <ams@gnu.org> writes:

> How about you quote a dictionary if you are so sure that you have the
> right meaning of the word?  Starting some kind of trolling and mud
> throwing campagin against a fellow peer is quite disgusting.

If you are wrong, you are wrong.  That is not trolling and mud
throwing.  And being a "fellow peer" does not mean that if you are
wrong, I have to be wrong too and further weaken the community
weakened by you being wrong.

Anyway.

Google search with "define:Freeware"

yields the following.  Let's see how this is split among
A: available at no cost (what most people say here)
B: available at no cost, but always not free software (your stance)
C: available at no cost, and free software
D: available at no cost, use costs (like shareware)

    Definitions of Freeware on the Web:

A       * Software that is available free of charge for personal use.
          www.education-world.com/help/glossary.shtml


A       * Software distributed for free on the Web.
          www.c-latitude.com/glossary.asp

B       * Software which is distributed free by the author. Although it is 
available for free, the author retains the copyright, which means that it 
cannot be altered or sold.
          valencia.cc.fl.us/lrcwest/lis2004/glossary.htm

A       * Software on the web that is freely available (but retains a 
copyright).
          www.liv.ac.uk/webteam/glossary/

A       * Software that is available for download and unlimited use without 
charge. Compare to shareware.
          www.vikont.com/clients/glossary.htm

A       * A method of software distribution where a programmer creates a 
program and makes it available for free.
          www.angelfire.com/bc/nursinginformatics/glossary2.html

A or D  * Shareware, or software, that can be downloaded off the internet -- 
for free.
          smartbizconnection.com/advertising_glossary_index.htm

A       * Software allowed to be distributed free by the author, but often with 
certain conditions applying (ie. the software cannot be modified etc).
          www.devel.legend.co.uk/resources/gloss.html

C       * Software application programs that are free to use and distribute. 
Often, these programs are written by home programmers and distributed via the 
Internet at no cost and no future obligation to buy.
          www.pccomputernotes.com/pcterms/glossaryf.htm

A       * Software offered by companies at no charge, hence the name "freeware."
          www.lanw.com/books/xmlfdum2/extras/glossary/a-f.htm

A       * is software that can be obtained and used free of charge.
          www.tecc.com.au/tecc/guide/glossary.asp

A       * software that doesn't cost anything
          www.archivemag.co.uk/gloss/F.html

A       * Software developed by individuals or small companies that costs 
nothing to use. The developer retains the copyright to the product, so freeware 
is not in the public domain. Many Internet utilities are freeware or shareware.
          www.websightsolutions.com/faq_gloss.html

A       * Programs and applications that can be downloaded from the Internet 
and used for free. There is a large assortment of useful freeware on the Net.
          www.rtnda.org/resources/wiredweb/appendixd.html

A or C  * Software available from many locations on the Internet (often via 
FTP) that is totally free.
          www.shiftnetworks.com/glossary.cfm

A       * Software that is available for free, usually over the Internet.
          www.mcmaster.ca/cis/ctl/glossary.htm

A or C  * This is a shortened version of Free Software. Programmers offer their 
work without wanting pay in return.
          www.5starsupport.com/glossary/f.htm

A       * Freeware is programming that is offered at no cost. However, it is 
copyrighted so that you cant incorporate its programming into anything you may 
be developing. The least restrictive "no-cost" programs are open to copy 
programs in the public domain. These include a number of small UNIX programs. 
When reusing public domain software in your own programs, its good to know the 
history of the program so that you can be sure it really is in the public 
domain.
          www.planetech.co.uk/glossary.htm

A       * Software that requires no payment to use, but the author retains the 
copyright.
          www.compulabel.com/index.asp

C       * (software) Free software available for example on the Internet that 
can be freely used and redistributed.
          www2.themanualpage.org/glossary/glo_f.php3

A       * common parlance for software which is made available free of charge 
by its author(s)
          www.ucolick.org/~de/deimos/glossary.html

A       * A software program that is offered for free. Often it is the result 
of someone programming for learning purposes, and can therefore have many 
errors. Many of today's most used programs started out as freeware.
          
www.packardbell.co.uk/specialevents/infocenter/01/internet/i-course/01ic003a/01ic003a.htm

C       * Software that requires no fees for its use. This software is usually 
freely available, often times off of the World Wide Web. Although this software 
does not require payment, it still has licensing restrictions that must be 
followed during its use.
          www.intbuild.com/WGGlossary.html

A       * Software for which the author makes no charge. Because the author of 
the software is making no money, freeware is usually unsupported. It is often 
very specialised in nature, and therefore has little or no market value. 
Freeware can come in the form of small applications, utilities, or games. For 
the record, deciding to use commercial software without paying for it does not 
automatically turn it into freeware.
          www.scotsmist.co.uk/glossary_f.html

B?     * Copyrighted software given away for free by the author. You can use 
such software, but cannot profit from it in any way.
          www.eabnet.org.uk/knowitall/finally/glossary/f.htm

A       * software that is provided without charge
          wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

A       * Freeware is computer software which is made available free of charge, 
although typically freeware is proprietary. Unlike "free software" (as defined 
by Richard Stallman), it is usually distributed without source code and often 
carries a restrictive license. For example, a license might allow the software 
to be freely copied, but not sold, or might forbid commercial, government or 
military use.
          en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeware


Note that even C comes up more often than B.

So please could you cite your reference and why you consider it canonical?

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum