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diff --git a/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/gpl-american-dream.html b/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/gpl-american-dream.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e7e2bcd --- /dev/null +++ b/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/gpl-american-dream.html @@ -0,0 +1,118 @@ +<!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" --> +<!-- Parent-Version: 1.77 --> +<title>The GNU GPL and the American Dream +- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> +<!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/gpl-american-dream.translist" --> +<!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" --> +<h2>The GNU GPL and the American Dream</h2> + +<p>by <strong>Bradley M. Kuhn</strong></p> + +<p> +When I was in grade school, right here in the United States of +America, I was taught that our country was the “land of +opportunity”. My teachers told me that my country was special, +because anyone with a good idea and a drive to do good work could make +a living, and be successful too. They called it the “American +Dream”.</p> +<p> +What was the cornerstone to the “American Dream”? It was +equality—everyone had the same chance in our society to choose +their own way. I could have any career I wanted, and if I worked +hard, I would be successful.</p> +<p> +It turned out that I had some talent for working with +computers—in particular, computer software. Indoctrinated with +the “American Dream”, I learned as much as I could about +computer software. I wanted my chance at success.</p> +<p> +I quickly discovered though, that in many cases, not all the players in the +field of computer software were equal. By the time I entered the field, +large companies like Microsoft tended to control much of the technology. +And, that technology was available to me under licensing agreements that +forbid me to study and learn from it. I was completely prohibited from +viewing the program source code of the software.</p> +<p> +I found out, too, that those with lots of money could negotiate different +licenses. If they paid enough, they could get permission to study and learn +from the source code. Typically, such licenses cost many thousands of +dollars, and being young and relatively poor, I was out of luck.</p> +<p> +After spending my early years in the software business a bit downtrodden by +my inability to learn more, I eventually discovered another body of software +that did allow me to study and learn. This software was released under a +license called the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL). Instead of +restricting my freedom to study and learn from it, this license was +specifically designed to allow me to learn. The license ensured that no +matter what happened to the public versions of the software, I'd always be +able to study its source code.</p> +<p> +I quickly built my career around this software. I got lots of work +configuring, installing, administering, and teaching about that software. +Thanks to the GNU GPL, I always knew that I could stay competitive in my +business, because I would always be able to learn easily about new +innovations as soon as they were made. This gave me a unique ability to +innovate myself. I could innovate quickly, and impress my employers. I was +even able to start my own consulting business. My own business! The +pinnacle of the American Dream!</p> +<p> +Thus, I was quite surprised last week when a vice president at Microsoft +hinted that the GNU GPL contradicted the American Way.</p> +<p> +The GNU GPL is specifically designed to make sure that all technological +innovators, programmers, and software users are given equal footing. Each +high school student, independent contractor, small business, and large +corporation are given an equal chance to innovate. We all start the race +from the same point. Those people with deep understanding of the software +and an ability to make it work well for others are most likely to succeed, +and they do succeed.</p> +<p> +That is exactly what the American Way is about, at least the way I learned +it in grade school. I hope that we won't let Microsoft and others change +the definition.</p> +</div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above --> +<!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" --> +<div id="footer"> +<div class="unprintable"> + +<p>Please send general FSF & GNU inquiries to <a +href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><gnu@gnu.org></a>. There are also <a +href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a> the FSF. Broken links and other +corrections or suggestions can be sent to <a +href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><webmasters@gnu.org></a>.</p> + +<p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph, + replace it with the translation of these two: + + We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality + translations. However, we are not exempt from imperfection. + Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard + to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org"> + <web-translators@gnu.org></a>.</p> + + <p>For information on coordinating and submitting translations of + our web pages, see <a + href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations + README</a>. --> +Please see the <a +href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations README</a> for +information on coordinating and submitting translations of this article.</p> +</div> + +<p>Copyright © 2001 Bradley M. Kuhn</p> + +<p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is +permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is +preserved.</p> + +<!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" --> + +<p class="unprintable">Updated: +<!-- timestamp start --> +$Date: 2014/04/12 12:40:09 $ +<!-- timestamp end --> +</p> +</div> +</div> +</body> +</html> |