Re: Open source - Free software

[Stefaan A Eeckels]

On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 23:13:59 -0400
Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid> wrote:

[alt.comp.freeware dropped]

> On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:53:19 +0200, Stefaan A Eeckels
> <hoendech@ecc.lu> wrote:
> 
> >But unless you talk about a box in a shop, software isn't "any
> >product in commerce".
> 
> It's *A* product in commerce.  Whether the method of transport is the
> postal service, your arm reaching for a box on the shelf or a download
> is irrelevant to the fact that it's a product in commerce.

Software is -recognised by the fact that it's covered by copyright-
a means of expression. Free software is like free speech, and a product
that happens to be software is like a newspaper that happens to be
speech. The fact that one can read a newspaper electronically doesn't
change the fact that it's the newspaper that is the product, not the
speech. 

-- 
Stefaan A Eeckels
-- 
"One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide
stupidity there ain't nothing can beat teamwork."     -- Mark Twain