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diff --git a/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/microsoft-verdict.html b/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/microsoft-verdict.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f98483c --- /dev/null +++ b/talermerchantdemos/blog/articles/en/microsoft-verdict.html @@ -0,0 +1,106 @@ +<!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" --> +<!-- Parent-Version: 1.77 --> + +<title>On the Microsoft Verdict - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> + +<!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/microsoft-verdict.translist" --> +<!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" --> + +<h2>On the Microsoft Verdict</h2> + +<p> +Many +<a href="/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html">GNU/Linux</a> +users think of the system as competition for Microsoft. +But the Free Software Movement aims to solve a problem that is much +bigger than Microsoft: proprietary, nonfree software, designed to +keep users helpless and prohibit cooperation. Microsoft is the +largest developer of such software, but many other companies treat the +users' freedom just as badly; if they have not shackled as many users +as Microsoft, it is not for lack of trying.</p> +<p> +Since Microsoft is just a part of the problem, its defeat in the +anti-trust lawsuit is not necessarily a victory for free software. +Whether the outcome of this suit helps free software and promotes +users' freedom depends of the specific remedies imposed on Microsoft +by the judge.</p> +<p> +If the remedies are designed to enable other companies compete in +offering proprietary, nonfree software, that will do the Free World +no particular good. Alternative possible masters is not freedom. And +competition could lead them to do a “better” job, better +in a narrow technical sense; then it could be harder for us to +“compete” with them technically. We will continue to +offer the user one thing those companies do +not—freedom—and users who value freedom will continue to +choose free software for that reason. But users who do not value +freedom, and choose a system based on mere convenience, might be +enticed away to “improved” proprietary systems.</p> +<p> +Splitting Microsoft into separate companies could also endanger free +software, because these smaller companies, no longer held in check by +the public readiness to condemn Microsoft, might see fit to attack +free software more harshly than the present unified Microsoft does.</p> +<p> +I've +<a href="/philosophy/microsoft-antitrust.html">proposed remedies</a> +for this case that would help free software compete with Microsoft: +for example, requiring Microsoft to publish documentation for all +interfaces, and to use patents only for defense, not for aggression. +These remedies would block the use of the weapons that Microsoft plans +to use against us (according to the “Halloween documents” +leaked from within Microsoft which spelled out how they plan to impede +development of the GNU/Linux system).</p> +<p> +When we see what remedies the judge chooses, we will get an idea of +whether the case has been helpful or harmful to the Free Software +Movement.</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 © 2000, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.</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 12:40:19 $ +<!-- timestamp end --> +</p> +</div> +</div> +</body> +</html> |