Re: [Fsfe-uk] Software patent - any action?

[Alex McLintock]

At 13:44 31/12/02, Chris Lale wrote:
> I also want to explain the meaning of free software to a lay person in my 
> letters. I would welcome comments on the following text, especially where 
> I have made mistakes.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Open-source software and free software are the same in practical terms. 
> They both use the same licence (GPL). Their philosophy is different. Free 
> software is defined in terms of freedoms (freedom to run, study, adapt, 
> redistribute and improve a program). Open-source software is defined in 
> practical terms (rights attached to a program must allow redistribution 
> and derived works, avoid descrimination, must not be specific to a product 
> or restrict other software, must be technology neutral). Both require full 
> access to source code - no secrecy.
>
> Free software is not the same as freeware or public domain software. 
> Freeware and public domain software can be snapped up and put into 
> non-free programs. Any improvements then made are lost to society. To stay 
> free, software must be copyrighted and licensed.  Free software does not 
> mean non-commercial. A free program must be available for commercial use, 
> commercial development, and commercial distribution. Commercial 
> development of free software is now quite common.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------

Looks good to me Chris. I assume you are granting permission for anyone to 
use this text? I'd like to use it on my website.

:-)

Alex



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