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diff --git a/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/mcvoy.html b/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/mcvoy.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb9e4a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/mcvoy.html @@ -0,0 +1,191 @@ +<!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" --> +<!-- Parent-Version: 1.77 --> +<title>Thank You, Larry McVoy +- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> +<!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/mcvoy.translist" --> +<!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" --> +<h2>Thank You, Larry McVoy</h2> + +<p>by <strong>Richard M. Stallman</strong></p> + +<p> +For the first time in my life, I want to thank Larry McVoy. He +recently eliminated a major weakness of the free software community, +by announcing the end of his campaign to entice free software projects +to use and promote his nonfree software. Soon, Linux development +will no longer use this program, and no longer spread the message that +nonfree software is a good thing if it's convenient. +</p> + +<p> +My gratitude is limited, since it was McVoy that created the problem +in the first place. But I still appreciate his decision to clear it +up. +</p> + +<p> +There are thousands of nonfree programs, and most merit no special +attention, other than developing a free replacement. What made this +program, BitKeeper, infamous and dangerous was its marketing approach: +inviting high-profile free software projects to use it, so as to +attract other paying users. +</p> + +<p> +McVoy made the program available gratis to free software developers. +This did not mean it was free software for them: they were privileged +not to part with their money, but they still had to part with their +freedom. They gave up the fundamental freedoms that define free +software: freedom to run the program as you wish for any purpose, +freedom to study and change the source code as you wish, freedom to +make and redistribute copies, and freedom to publish modified +versions. +</p> + +<p> +The free software movement has said, “Think of ‘free speech,’ not +‘free beer’” since 1990. McVoy said the opposite; he invited +developers to focus on the lack of monetary price, instead of on +freedom. A free software activist would dismiss this suggestion, but +those in our community who value technical advantage above freedom and +community were susceptible to it. +</p> + +<p> +McVoy's great triumph was the adoption of this program for Linux +development. No free software project is more visible than Linux. It +is the kernel of the GNU/Linux operating system, an essential +component, and users often mistake it for the entire system. As McVoy +surely planned, the use of his program in Linux development was +powerful publicity for it. +</p> + +<p> +It was also, whether intentionally or not, a powerful political PR +campaign, telling the free software community that freedom-denying +software is acceptable as long as it's convenient. If we had taken +that attitude towards Unix in 1984, where would we be today? Nowhere. +If we had accepted using Unix, instead of setting out to replace it, +nothing like the GNU/Linux system would exist. +</p> + +<p> +Of course, the Linux developers had practical reasons for what they +did. I won't argue with those reasons; they surely know what's +convenient for them. But they did not count, or did not value, how +this would affect their freedom—or the rest of the community's +efforts. +</p> + +<p> +A free kernel, even a whole free operating system, is not sufficient +to use your computer in freedom; we need free software for everything +else, too. Free applications, free drivers, free +<abbr title="Basic Input/Output System">BIOS</abbr>: some of those +projects face large obstacles—the need to reverse engineer +formats or protocols or pressure companies to document them, or to +work around or face down patent threats, or to compete with a network +effect. Success will require firmness and determination. A better +kernel is desirable, to be sure, but not at the expense of weakening +the impetus to liberate the rest of the software world. +</p> + +<p> +When the use of his program became controversial, McVoy responded with +distraction. For instance, he promised to release it as free software +if the company went out of business. Alas, that does no good as long +as the company remains in business. Linux developers responded by +saying, “We'll switch to a free program when you develop a +better one.” This was an indirect way of saying, “We made +the mess, but we won't clean it up.” +</p> + +<p> +Fortunately, not everyone in Linux development considered a nonfree +program acceptable, and there was continuing pressure for a free +alternative. Finally Andrew Tridgell developed an interoperating free +program, so Linux developers would no longer need to use a nonfree +program. +</p> + +<p> +McVoy first blustered and threatened, but ultimately chose to go home +and take his ball with him: he withdrew permission for gratis use by +free software projects, and Linux developers will move to other +software. The program they no longer use will remain unethical as +long as it is nonfree, but they will no longer promote it, nor by +using it teach others to give freedom low priority. We can begin to +forget about that program. +</p> + + +<p> +We should not forget the lesson we have learned from it: Nonfree +programs are dangerous to you and to your community. Don't let them +get a place in your life. +</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> + +<!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to + files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should + be under CC BY-ND 3.0 US. Please do NOT change or remove this + without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first. + Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the + document. For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the + document was modified, or published. + + If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too. + Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying + years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable + year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including + being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system). + + There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers + Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. --> + +<p>Copyright © 2005 Richard M. Stallman</p> + +<p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license" +href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative +Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License</a>.</p> + +<!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" --> + +<p class="unprintable">Updated: +<!-- timestamp start --> +$Date: 2014/04/12 12:40:14 $ +<!-- timestamp end --> +</p> +</div> +</div> +</body> +</html> |