essays-and-articles.html (50938B)
1 <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" --> 2 <!-- Parent-Version: 1.96 --> 3 <!-- This page is derived from /server/standards/boilerplate.html --> 4 <!--#set var="DISABLE_TOP_ADDENDUM" value="yes" --> 5 <title>Essays and Articles 6 - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> 7 <style type="text/css" media="print,screen"><!-- 8 .toc { margin-bottom: 1em; } 9 .toc ul { font-weight: normal; } 10 .toc > ul > li { list-style-type: none; font-weight: bold; } 11 @media (min-width:55em) { .toc > ul > li { display: inline-block; width: 95%; }} 12 .reduced-width > h3 { margin-top: 1.5em; border-bottom: 2px solid #bbb; } 13 ul.no-bullet li { text-indent: -1.5em; } 14 .date-tag { font-size: .875em; position: relative; bottom: .05em; } 15 --></style> 16 <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/essays-and-articles.translist" --> 17 <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" --> 18 <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/philosophy-menu.html" --> 19 <!--GNUN: OUT-OF-DATE NOTICE--> 20 <!--#include virtual="/server/top-addendum.html" --> 21 <div class="reduced-width"> 22 <h2>Essays and Articles</h2> 23 <div class="thin"></div> 24 25 <div class="comment"> 26 <p>This page lists a series of articles describing the philosophy of the 27 free software movement, which is the motivation for our development of 28 the free software operating system GNU.</p> 29 30 <p>The most important articles are marked with asterisks, and listed first 31 in each category. The other ones are in reverse chronological order.</p> 32 </div> 33 34 <div class="toc"> 35 <h3 class="no-display">Table of Contents</h3> 36 <ul class="columns"> 37 <li><a href="#aboutfs">About Free Software</a> 38 <ul> 39 <li><a href="#principles">Principles</a></li> 40 <li><a href="#practice">Practice</a></li> 41 <li><a href="#extension">Extension to other areas</a></li> 42 <li><a href="#mix">Mixing free and nonfree</a></li> 43 <li><a href="#free-open">Free software and open source</a></li> 44 </ul> 45 </li> 46 <li><a href="#upholding">Upholding Software Freedom</a> 47 <ul> 48 <li><a href="/gnu/gnu.html">The GNU Project</a></li> 49 <li><a href="#fsmovement">The free software movement</a></li> 50 <li><a href="#need">The need for free software</a></li> 51 <li><a href="#action">Guide for action</a></li> 52 </ul> 53 </li> 54 <li><a href="#LicensingFreeSoftware">Licensing Free Software</a> 55 <ul> 56 <li><a href="/licenses/licenses.html">General information</a></li> 57 <li><a href="#copyleft">Copyleft</a></li> 58 <li><a href="#non-copyleft">Non-copyleft</a></li> 59 <li><a href="#traps">Licensing traps</a></li> 60 </ul> 61 </li> 62 <li><a href="#Laws">Legal Issues</a> 63 <ul> 64 <li><a href="#patents">Patents</a></li> 65 <li><a href="#copyright">Copyright</a></li> 66 <li><a href="#noip">The propaganda term “Intellectual 67 Property”</a></li> 68 <li><a href="#sco">Response to SCO's attacks</a></li> 69 </ul> 70 </li> 71 <li><a href="#cultural">Cultural and Social Issues</a> 72 <ul> 73 <li><a href="#society">Digital society</a></li> 74 <li><a href="#drm">Digital restrictions management</a></li> 75 <li><a href="#ns">Network services</a></li> 76 <li><a href="#access">Accessing culture</a></li> 77 <li><a href="#funding">Funding cultural works</a></li> 78 <li><a href="#evils">Surveillance, censorship, lock-in, etc.</a></li> 79 <li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary.html">Proprietary malware</a></li> 80 </ul> 81 </li> 82 <li><a href="#terminology">Terminology and Definitions</a></li> 83 <li><a href="/fun/humor.html#Philosophy">Philosophical Humor</a></li> 84 </ul> 85 <hr class="no-display" /> 86 </div> 87 88 <h3 id="aboutfs">About Free Software</h3> 89 <p> 90 Free software is a matter of freedom: people should be free to use 91 software in all the ways that are socially useful. Software differs 92 from material objects—such as chairs, sandwiches, and 93 gasoline—in that it can be copied and changed much more easily. 94 These possibilities make software as useful as it is; we believe 95 software users should be able to make use of them.</p> 96 97 <h4 id="principles">Principles</h4> 98 <ul class="no-bullet"> 99 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[1996… ]</span>' 100 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 101 <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html"> 102 What is Free Software?</a></li> 103 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2015]</span>' 104 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 105 <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html"> 106 Free Software Is Even More Important Now</a> 107 (by RMS)</li> 108 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[1996]</span>' 109 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 110 <a href="/philosophy/selling.html"> 111 Selling Free Software</a> 112 — This is OK!</li> 113 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2012]</span>' 114 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 115 <a href="/philosophy/programs-must-not-limit-freedom-to-run.html"> 116 Why programs must not limit the freedom to run them</a> 117 (by RMS) 118 — Freedom 0 must not be limited.</li> 119 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2007]</span>' 120 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 121 <a href="/philosophy/your-freedom-needs-free-software.html"> 122 Your Freedom Needs Free Software</a> 123 (by RMS)</li> 124 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1994]</span>' 125 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 126 <a href="/philosophy/why-free.html"> 127 Why Software Should Not Have Owners</a> 128 (by RMS)</li> 129 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1991]</span>' 130 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 131 <a href="/philosophy/shouldbefree.html"> 132 Why Software Should Be Free</a> 133 (by RMS) 134 — An older and longer essay about the same topic as the 135 previous one.</li> 136 </ul> 137 138 <h4 id="practice">Practice</h4> 139 <ul class="no-bullet"> 140 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[1999-2011]</span>' 141 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 142 <a href="/philosophy/when-free-software-isnt-practically-superior.html"> 143 When Free Software Isn't (Practically) Superior</a> 144 (by Benjamin Mako Hill)</li> 145 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2015]</span>' 146 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 147 <a href="/philosophy/applying-free-sw-criteria.html"> 148 Applying the Free Software Criteria</a> 149 (by RMS)</li> 150 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2014]</span>' 151 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 152 <a href="/philosophy/imperfection-isnt-oppression.html"> 153 Imperfection is not the same as oppression</a> 154 (by RMS)</li> 155 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2011]</span>' 156 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 157 <a href="/philosophy/android-and-users-freedom.html"> 158 Android and Users' Freedom</a> 159 (by RMS)</li> 160 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1997-2011]</span>' 161 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 162 <a href="/software/reliability.html"> 163 Free Software is More Reliable!</a></li> 164 </ul> 165 166 <h4 id="extension">Extension to other areas</h4> 167 <ul class="no-bullet"> 168 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[1996]</span>' 169 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 170 <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html"> 171 Why Free Software Needs Free Documentation</a></li> 172 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2020]</span>' 173 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 174 <a href="/philosophy/free-software-rocket.html"> 175 Should Rockets Have Only Free Software? Free Software and Appliances</a> 176 (by RMS)</li> 177 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2015]</span>' 178 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 179 <a href="/philosophy/free-hardware-designs.html"> 180 Free Hardware and Free Hardware Designs</a> 181 (by RMS)</li> 182 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2015]</span>' 183 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 184 <a href="/philosophy/loyal-computers.html"> 185 What Does It Mean for Your Computer to Be Loyal?</a> 186 (by RMS)</li> 187 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2012]</span>' 188 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 189 <a href="/philosophy/network-services-arent-free-or-nonfree.html"> 190 Network Services Aren't Free or Nonfree; They Raise Other Issues</a> 191 (by RMS)</li> 192 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2000]</span>' 193 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 194 <a href="/philosophy/gnutella.html" id="Gnutella"> 195 Regarding Gnutella</a></li> 196 </ul> 197 198 <h4 id="mix">Mixing free and nonfree</h4> 199 <ul class="no-bullet"> 200 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2016]</span>' 201 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 202 <a href="/philosophy/when-free-depends-on-nonfree.html"> 203 When Free Software Depends on Nonfree</a> 204 (by RMS)</li> 205 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2013]</span>' 206 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 207 <a href="/philosophy/is-ever-good-use-nonfree-program.html"> 208 Is It Ever a Good Thing to Use a Nonfree Program?</a> 209 (by RMS)</li> 210 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2005]</span>' 211 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 212 <a href="/philosophy/mcvoy.html"> 213 Thank You, Larry McVoy</a> 214 (by RMS)</li> 215 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1998]</span>' 216 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 217 <a href="/philosophy/udi.html"> 218 The Free Software Movement and UDI</a> 219 (by RMS)</li> 220 </ul> 221 222 <h4 id="free-open">Free software and open source</h4> 223 <ul class="no-bullet"> 224 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2007-2021]</span>' 225 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 226 <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html"> 227 Why “Open Source” Misses the Point of Free Software</a> 228 (by RMS)</li> 229 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2015]</span>' 230 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 231 <a href="/philosophy/free-open-overlap.html"> 232 How Free Software and Open Source Relate as Categories of Programs</a></li> 233 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2013]</span>' 234 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 235 <a href="/philosophy/floss-and-foss.html"> 236 FLOSS and FOSS</a> 237 (by RMS)</li> 238 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2002]</span>' 239 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 240 <a href="/philosophy/linux-gnu-freedom.html"> 241 Linux, GNU, and Freedom</a> 242 (by RMS)</li> 243 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2001]</span>' 244 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 245 <a href="/philosophy/drdobbs-letter.html"> 246 Letter from RMS to the Editor of Dr. Dobb's Journal</a> 247 on the distinction between open source and the free software movement.</li> 248 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1998]</span>' 249 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 250 <a href="/philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html"> 251 “Open Source Software” or “Free Software”?</a> 252 (replaced by <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html"> 253 Why “Open Source” Misses the Point of Free Software</a>)</li> 254 </ul> 255 256 257 <h3 id="upholding">Upholding Software Freedom</h3> 258 259 <h4>The GNU Project</h4> 260 <ul class="no-bullet"> 261 <li><a href="/gnu/gnu.html">The GNU Operating System</a> 262 — History, relationship with Linux, etc.</li> 263 </ul> 264 265 <h4 id="fsmovement">The free software movement</h4> 266 <ul class="no-bullet"> 267 <li><a href="https://www.fsf.org/"> 268 The official website of the Free Software Foundation</a></li> 269 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2004]</span>' 270 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 271 <a href="/philosophy/use-free-software.html"> 272 The Free Software Community After 20 Years</a> 273 (by RMS) 274 — With great but incomplete success, what now?</li> 275 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999]</span>' 276 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 277 <a href="/philosophy/15-years-of-free-software.html"> 278 15 Years of Free Software</a> 279 (by RMS)</li> 280 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999]</span>' 281 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 282 <a href="/philosophy/free-software-intro.html"> 283 Free Software Movement</a></li> 284 </ul> 285 286 <h4 id="need">The need for free software</h4> 287 <ul class="no-bullet"> 288 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2011-2017]</span>' 289 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 290 <a href="/philosophy/government-free-software.html"> 291 Measures Governments Can Use to Promote Free Software</a> 292 (by RMS)</li> 293 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2009-2014]</span>' 294 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 295 <a href="/education/edu-schools.html"> 296 Why Schools Should Use Exclusively Free Software</a> 297 (by RMS)</li> 298 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2014]</span>' 299 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 300 <a href="/philosophy/technological-neutrality.html"> 301 Technological Neutrality and Free Software</a> 302 (by RMS)</li> 303 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2013]</span>' 304 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 305 <a href="/philosophy/uruguay.html"> 306 Lesson from Uruguay</a> 307 — The FSF learned something from a bill presented in Uruguay.</li> 308 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2005]</span>' 309 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 310 <a href="/philosophy/second-sight.html"> 311 Free Software and (e-)Government</a> 312 (by RMS)</li> 313 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2005]</span>' 314 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 315 <a href="/philosophy/fs-and-sustainable-development.html"> 316 Free Software and Sustainable Development</a> 317 (by RMS) 318 — A short article regarding the use of proprietary software in 319 cultural development.</li> 320 </ul> 321 322 <h4 id="action">Guide for action</h4> 323 <ul class="no-bullet"> 324 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2020]</span>' 325 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 326 <a href="/philosophy/saying-no-even-once.html"> 327 Saying No to unjust computing even once is help</a> 328 (by RMS)</li> 329 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2009]</span>' 330 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 331 <a href="/philosophy/fs-motives.html"> 332 Motives For Writing Free Software</a></li> 333 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2002-2020]</span>' 334 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 335 <a href="/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html" id="NoWordAttachments"> 336 We Can Put an End to Word Attachments</a> 337 (by RMS)</li> 338 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2019]</span>' 339 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 340 <a href="/philosophy/install-fest-devil.html"> 341 Install Fests: What to Do about the Deal with the Devil</a> 342 (by RMS)</li> 343 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2019]</span>' 344 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 345 <a href="/philosophy/upgrade-windows.html"> 346 What Is the Right Way to Upgrade an Installation of Windows?</a> 347 (by RMS)</li> 348 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2018]</span>' 349 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 350 <a href="/philosophy/kind-communication.html"> 351 GNU Kind Communications Guidelines</a> 352 (by RMS)</li> 353 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2017]</span>' 354 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 355 <a href="/philosophy/hackathons.html"> 356 Why Hackathons Should Insist on Free Software</a> 357 (by RMS)</li> 358 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2014]</span>' 359 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 360 <a href="/philosophy/contradictory-support.html"> 361 Beware of Contradictory “Support”</a> 362 (by RMS)</li> 363 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2012]</span>' 364 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 365 <a href="/philosophy/devils-advocate.html"> 366 Why the Devil's Advocate Doesn't Help Reach the Truth</a> 367 (by RMS)</li> 368 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2010]</span>' 369 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 370 <a href="/philosophy/practical.html"> 371 The Advantages of Free Software</a> 372 (by RMS)</li> 373 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2009]</span>' 374 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 375 <a href="/philosophy/pirate-party.html"> 376 How the Swedish Pirate Party Platform Backfires on Free Software</a> 377 (by RMS)</li> 378 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2009]</span>' 379 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 380 <a href="/philosophy/lest-codeplex-perplex.html"> 381 Lest CodePlex perplex</a> 382 (by RMS)</li> 383 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2008]</span>' 384 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 385 <a href="/philosophy/ucita.html"> 386 Why We Must Fight UCITA</a></li> 387 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2008]</span>' 388 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 389 <a href="/philosophy/compromise.html"> 390 Avoiding Ruinous Compromises</a> 391 (by RMS)</li> 392 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2007]</span>' 393 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 394 <a href="/philosophy/social-inertia.html"> 395 Overcoming Social Inertia</a> 396 (by RMS)</li> 397 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2004]</span>' 398 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 399 <a href="/philosophy/my_doom.html"> 400 MyDoom and You</a> 401 (by RMS)</li> 402 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2003]</span>' 403 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 404 <a href="/philosophy/kevin-cole-response.html"> 405 A Response Letter to the Word Attachments</a> 406 (by Kevin Cole)</li> 407 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2003]</span>' 408 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 409 <a href="/philosophy/anonymous-response.html"> 410 A Response to Word Attachments</a></li> 411 </ul> 412 413 414 <h3 id="LicensingFreeSoftware">Licensing Free Software</h3> 415 416 <ul class="no-bullet"> 417 <li><a href="/licenses/licenses.html"> 418 Licenses</a> 419 — General information on licensing and copyleft</li> 420 </ul> 421 422 <h4 id="copyleft">Copyleft</h4> 423 <ul class="no-bullet"> 424 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2003]</span>' 425 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 426 <a href="/philosophy/why-copyleft.html"> 427 Why Copyleft?</a></li> 428 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[1998]</span>' 429 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 430 <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> 431 Copyleft: Pragmatic Idealism</a> 432 (by RMS)</li> 433 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2009-2017]</span>' 434 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 435 <a href="/philosophy/selling-exceptions.html"> 436 On Selling Exceptions to the GNU GPL</a> 437 (by RMS)</li> 438 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2014]</span>' 439 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 440 <a href="/philosophy/assigning-copyright.html"> 441 When a Company Asks For Your Copyright</a></li> 442 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2005]</span>' 443 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 444 <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/20050211.html"> 445 Censorship envy and licensing</a> 446 (by David “Novalis” Turner, on <i>fsf.org</i>)</li> 447 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2004]</span>' 448 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 449 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210228133128/https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/archive/downloads/research/gpl/OIIFB_GPL2_20040903.pdf"> 450 English translation of the famous decision of the District Court of 451 Munich</a> regarding the enforceability and validity of the GPL (by 452 the translators of the Oxford Internet Institute, on 453 <i>oii.ox.ac.uk</i>)</li> 454 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2002]</span>' 455 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 456 <a href="/philosophy/university.html"> 457 Releasing Free Software if You Work at a University</a> 458 (by RMS)</li> 459 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2001]</span>' 460 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 461 <a href="/philosophy/gpl-american-way.html" id="GPLAmericanWay"> 462 The GNU GPL and the American Way</a> 463 (by RMS)</li> 464 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2001]</span>' 465 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 466 <a href="/philosophy/gpl-american-dream.html" id="GPLAmericanDream"> 467 The GNU GPL and the American Dream</a> 468 (by Bradley M. Kuhn)</li> 469 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2001]</span>' 470 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 471 <a href="/philosophy/freedom-or-power.html" id="FreedomOrPower"> 472 Freedom or Power?</a> 473 (by Bradley M. Kuhn and RMS)</li> 474 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2001]</span>' 475 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 476 <a href="/philosophy/rtlinux-patent.html"> 477 GPL-compliant version of RTLinux Open Patent License in Works</a></li> 478 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2001]</span>' 479 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 480 <a href="/philosophy/enforcing-gpl.html" id="EnforcingGPL"> 481 Enforcing the GNU GPL</a> 482 (by Eben Moglen)</li> 483 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999]</span>' 484 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 485 <a href="/philosophy/using-gfdl.html" id="UsingGFDL"> 486 Using the GNU FDL</a> 487 (by RMS)</li> 488 </ul> 489 490 <h4 id="non-copyleft">Non-copyleft</h4> 491 <ul class="no-bullet"> 492 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2003]</span>' 493 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 494 <a href="/philosophy/apsl.html"> 495 FSF's Opinion of the Apple Public Source License (APSL) 2.0</a></li> 496 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2000]</span>' 497 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 498 <a href="/philosophy/plan-nine.html" id="PlanNineLicense"> 499 The Problems of the (Earlier) Plan 9 License</a> 500 (by RMS)</li> 501 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1998]</span>' 502 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 503 <a href="/philosophy/netscape-npl.html"> 504 On the Netscape Public License</a> 505 (by RMS) 506 [<a href="/philosophy/netscape-npl-old.html">older version</a>]</li> 507 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1998]</span>' 508 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 509 <a href="/philosophy/netscape.html"> 510 Netscape and Free Software</a> 511 — An old article that clarifies some misunderstandings about an 512 announcement by Netscape.</li> 513 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1997]</span>' 514 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 515 <a href="/philosophy/motif.html" id="MotifLicense"> 516 The Motif License</a> 517 (by RMS)</li> 518 </ul> 519 520 <h4 id="traps">Licensing traps</h4> 521 <ul class="no-bullet"> 522 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2009-2019]</span>' 523 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 524 <a href="/philosophy/javascript-trap.html"> 525 JavaScript Trap</a> 526 (by RMS) 527 — You may be running nonfree programs on your computer every day 528 without realizing it—through your web browser.</li> 529 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2004-2015]</span>' 530 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 531 <a href="/philosophy/java-trap.html" id="JavaTrap"> 532 Free But Shackled - The Java Trap</a> 533 (by RMS) 534 — Although Sun has 535 <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/fsf-welcomes-gpl-java.html"> 536 relicensed</a> most of its Java platform reference implementation under 537 the GNU General Public License, the issue described in this article 538 still remains important.</li> 539 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1998-2009]</span>' 540 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 541 <a href="/philosophy/x.html"> 542 The X Window System Trap</a> 543 (by RMS)</li> 544 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2006]</span>' 545 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 546 <a href="/philosophy/sun-in-night-time.html"> 547 The Curious Incident of Sun in the Night-Time</a> 548 (by RMS)</li> 549 </ul> 550 551 552 <h3 id="Laws">Legal issues</h3> 553 554 <h4 id="patents">Patents</h4> 555 <ul class="no-bullet"> 556 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2012]</span>' 557 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 558 <a href="/philosophy/limit-patent-effect.html"> 559 Giving the Software Field Protection from Patents</a> 560 (by RMS)</li> 561 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2011]</span>' 562 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 563 <a href="/philosophy/europes-unitary-patent.html"> 564 Europe's “unitary patent” could mean unlimited software 565 patents</a> 566 (by RMS)</li> 567 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2000-2007]</span>' 568 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 569 <a href="https://www.eff.org/search/site/dvd%20cases/"> 570 EFF “Intellectual Property”: MPAA (Motion Picture 571 Association of America) DVD Cases Archive</a></li> 572 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2006]</span>' 573 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 574 <a href="/philosophy/trivial-patent.html"> 575 The Anatomy of a Trivial Patent</a> 576 (by RMS)</li> 577 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2005]</span>' 578 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 579 <a href="/philosophy/microsoft-new-monopoly.html"> 580 Microsoft's New Monopoly</a> 581 (by RMS)</li> 582 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2005]</span>' 583 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 584 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2005/aug/02/comment.business"> 585 Soft sell</a> 586 (by RMS, on <i>theguardian.com</i>) 587 — Comments on the defeat of the EU software patenting directive.</li> 588 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2005]</span>' 589 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 590 <a href="/philosophy/bill-gates-and-other-communists.html"> 591 Bill Gates and Other Communists</a> 592 (by RMS)</li> 593 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2005]</span>' 594 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 595 <a href="/philosophy/software-literary-patents.html" id="SoftwareLiteraryPatents"> 596 Software Patents and Literary Patents</a> 597 (by RMS) 598 — Speaking of patenting artistic techniques, US patent (6,935,954) 599 covers making game characters start to hallucinate when (according to the 600 game) they are being driven insane. That is getting pretty close to the 601 hypothetical examples cited in this article.</li> 602 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2004]</span>' 603 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 604 <a href="/philosophy/fighting-software-patents.html" id="FightingSoftwarePatents"> 605 Fighting Software Patents—Singly and Together</a> 606 (by RMS)</li> 607 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2005]</span>' 608 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 609 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2005/jun/23/onlinesupplement.insideit"> 610 Patent absurdity</a> 611 (by RMS, on <i>theguardian.com</i>)</li> 612 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2003]</span>' 613 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 614 <a href="/philosophy/w3c-patent.html"> 615 FSF's Position on W3 Consortium “Royalty-Free” Patent Policy</a> 616 (rewritten)</li> 617 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2003]</span>' 618 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 619 <a href="/philosophy/guardian-article.html"> 620 Opposing The European Software Patent Directive</a> 621 (by RMS and Nick Hill)</li> 622 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2001]</span>' 623 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 624 <a href="https://www.eff.org/press/releases/princeton-scientists-sue-over-squelched-research"> 625 Princeton Scientists Sue Over Squelched Research</a> 626 (press release on <i>eff.org</i>) 627 — In <cite>Felten v. RIAA</cite>, scientists ask a court to rule that the 628 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) does not prohibit them from 629 publishing their research.</li> 630 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2001]</span>' 631 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 632 <a href="/philosophy/hague.html"> 633 Harm from the Hague</a> 634 (by RMS)</li> 635 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2000]</span>' 636 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 637 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20000815064858/http://www.researchoninnovation.org/patent.pdf" 638 id="SequentialIPandI"> 639 Sequential Innovation, Patents, and Imitation</a> 640 (by James Bessen and Eric Maskin, on <i>researchoninnovation.org</i>, archived) 641 — This paper presents a mathematical model showing how patents can 642 impede progress in fields like software.</li> 643 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999]</span>' 644 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 645 <a href="/philosophy/amazon-rms-tim.html"> 646 Letter from RMS to Tim O'Reilly</a> 647 in regard to a statement by Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, on the duration of 648 software patents.</li> 649 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999]</span>' 650 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 651 <a href="/philosophy/amazon-nat.html"> 652 Amazon Boycott Success!</a> 653 (a letter from Nat Friedman to RMS)</li> 654 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999]</span>' 655 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 656 <a href="/philosophy/amazon.html"> 657 (Formerly) Boycott Amazon!</a></li> 658 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999]</span>' 659 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 660 <a href="/philosophy/amazonpatent.html"> 661 Method and system for placing a purchase order via a communications 662 network</a> 663 — Amazon patent with notes by RMS</li> 664 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1997]</span>' 665 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 666 <a href="/philosophy/gif.html"> 667 Why There Are No GIF Files on GNU Web Pages</a> 668 — While this story is a historical illustration of the danger of 669 software patents, these particular patents are now no longer a concern. 670 For details of our website policies regarding GIFs, see our <a 671 href="/server/standards/gnu-website-guidelines.html#UseofGraphics">web 672 guidelines</a>.</li> 673 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1996]</span>' 674 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 675 <a href="/philosophy/savingeurope.html"> 676 Saving Europe from Software Patents</a></li> 677 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1996]</span>' 678 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 679 <a href="/philosophy/protecting.html"> 680 Help Protect the Rights to Write Both Nonfree and Free Software</a></li> 681 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1996]</span>' 682 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 683 <a href="/philosophy/patent-reform-is-not-enough.html"> 684 Patent Reform Is Not Enough</a></li> 685 </ul> 686 687 <h4 id="copyright">Copyright</h4> 688 <ul class="no-bullet"> 689 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2002]</span>' 690 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 691 <a href="/philosophy/misinterpreting-copyright.html"> 692 Misinterpreting Copyright—A Series of Errors</a> 693 (by RMS) 694 — About the flaws in popular defenses of copyright law.</li> 695 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[1996]</span>' 696 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 697 <a href="/philosophy/reevaluating-copyright.html"> 698 Reevaluating Copyright: The Public Must Prevail</a> 699 (by RMS)</li> 700 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2010]</span>' 701 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 702 <a href="/philosophy/public-domain-manifesto.html"> 703 Why I Will Not Sign the Public Domain Manifesto</a> 704 (by RMS)</li> 705 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2008]</span>' 706 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 707 <a href="/philosophy/freedom-or-copyright.html"> 708 Freedom—or Copyright?</a> 709 (by RMS) 710 [<a href="/philosophy/freedom-or-copyright-old.html">older version</a>]</li> 711 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2002]</span>' 712 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 713 <a href="/philosophy/eldred-amicus.html"> 714 FSF's Brief Amicus Curiae in the <cite>Eldred v. Ashcroft</cite> Supreme Court case</a> 715 (by Eben Moglen)</li> 716 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2001]</span>' 717 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 718 <a href="/philosophy/push-copyright-aside.html"> 719 Science must “push copyright aside”</a> 720 (by RMS, first published in <a 721 href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050729110347/http://www.nature.com/nature/debates/e-access/Articles/stallman.html"> 722 <cite>Nature WebDebates</cite></a> in 2001) 723 — This article explains how copyright is impeding progress in 724 scientific research. You may also be interested 725 in <a href="https://plos.org/">The Public Library of Science</a>, 726 which is dedicated to making scientific research freely available to all 727 on the Internet.</li> 728 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2001]</span>' 729 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 730 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030604075825/http://www.humaninfo.org/copyrigh.htm"> 731 Examples of Excellent Copyright Policies</a> 732 (on <i>humaninfo.org</i>, archived)</li> 733 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999]</span>' 734 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 735 <a href="https://cyber.harvard.edu/openlaw/eldredvashcroft/cyber/complaint_orig.html"> 736 Original complaint in <cite>Eldred v. Reno</cite></a> 737 (on <i>harvard.edu</i>) 738 — A lawsuit to overturn a law that extends copyright by 20 extra 739 years.</li> 740 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1996]</span>' 741 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 742 <a href="/philosophy/rms-comment-longs-article.html"> 743 Comments on Roderick Long's Article</a> 744 (by RMS)</li> 745 </ul> 746 747 <h4 id="noip">The propaganda term “<a 748 href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#IntellectualProperty">Intellectual 749 Property</a>”</h4> 750 <ul class="no-bullet"> 751 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2004]</span>' 752 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 753 <a href="/philosophy/not-ipr.html"> 754 Did You Say “Intellectual Property”? It's a Seductive Mirage</a> 755 (by RMS)</li> 756 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2015]</span>' 757 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 758 <a href="/philosophy/komongistan.html"> 759 The Curious History of Komongistan (Busting the term “intellectual 760 property”)</a> 761 (by RMS)</li> 762 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2006]</span>' 763 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 764 <a href="/philosophy/no-ip-ethos.html"> 765 Don't Let “Intellectual Property” Twist Your Ethos</a> 766 (by RMS)</li> 767 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2003]</span>' 768 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 769 <a href="/philosophy/ipjustice.html"> 770 Reject IP Enforcement Directive</a> 771 — Comments on the rejection of this directive by the International 772 Civil Liberties Coalition.</li> 773 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2003]</span>' 774 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 775 <a href="/philosophy/boldrin-levine.html"> 776 Review: Boldrin and Levine, “The Case Against Intellectual 777 Property”</a> 778 (by RMS)</li> 779 </ul> 780 781 <h4 id="sco">Response to SCO's attacks</h4> 782 <ul class="no-bullet"> 783 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2003-2004]</span>' 784 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 785 <a href="/philosophy/sco/sco.html"> 786 FSF's Position regarding SCO's attacks on Free Software</a></li> 787 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2003]</span>' 788 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 789 <a href="/philosophy/sco/sco-gnu-linux.html"> 790 SCO, GNU, and Linux</a> 791 (by RMS) 792 — How SCO's lawsuit against IBM pertains to the work of the 793 GNU project.</li> 794 </ul> 795 796 797 <h3 id="cultural">Cultural and Social Issues</h3> 798 799 <h4 id="society">Digital society</h4> 800 <ul class="no-bullet"> 801 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2012]</span>' 802 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 803 <a href="/philosophy/stallmans-law.html"> 804 Stallman's Law</a></li> 805 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2009]</span>' 806 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 807 <a href="/philosophy/digital-inclusion-in-freedom.html"> 808 Is Digital Inclusion A Good Thing? How Can We Make Sure It Is?</a> 809 (by RMS)</li> 810 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2007]</span>' 811 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 812 <a href="/philosophy/computing-progress.html"> 813 Computing “progress”: good and bad</a> 814 (by RMS)</li> 815 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2003]</span>' 816 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 817 <a href="/philosophy/wsis.html"> 818 World Summit on the Information Society</a> 819 (by RMS)</li> 820 </ul> 821 822 <h4 id="drm">Digital restrictions management</h4> 823 <ul class="no-bullet"> 824 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2006]</span>' 825 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 826 <a href="/philosophy/opposing-drm.html"> 827 Opposing Digital Rights Mismanagement</a> 828 (by RMS) 829 — Answers to a few common questions about DRM.</li> 830 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2002]</span>' 831 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 832 <a href="/philosophy/can-you-trust.html"> 833 Can You Trust Your Computer?</a> 834 (by RMS) 835 — About the so-called “trusted computing” initiatives.</li> 836 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2013]</span>' 837 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 838 <a href="/philosophy/nonfree-games.html"> 839 Nonfree DRM'd Games on GNU/Linux: Good or Bad?</a> 840 (by RMS)</li> 841 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2012]</span>' 842 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 843 <a href="/philosophy/correcting-france-mistake.html"> 844 Correcting My Mistake about French Law</a> 845 (by RMS)</li> 846 </ul> 847 848 <h4 id="ns">Network Services</h4> 849 <ul class="no-bullet"> 850 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2010-2020]</span>' 851 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 852 <a href="/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html"> 853 Who does that server really serve?</a> 854 (by RMS)</li> 855 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2020]</span>' 856 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 857 <a href="/philosophy/posting-videos.html"> 858 Posting Videos</a> 859 (by RMS)</li> 860 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2015]</span>' 861 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 862 <a href="/philosophy/whats-wrong-with-youtube.html"> 863 What's Wrong with YouTube</a></li> 864 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2014]</span>' 865 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 866 <a href="/philosophy/bug-nobody-allowed-to-understand.html"> 867 The Bug Nobody is Allowed to Understand</a> 868 (by RMS)</li> 869 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2011]</span>' 870 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 871 <a href="/philosophy/judge-internet-usage.html"> 872 A wise user judges each Internet usage scenario carefully</a> 873 (by RMS)</li> 874 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2011]</span>' 875 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 876 <a href="/philosophy/keep-control-of-your-computing.html"> 877 Keep control of your computing, so it doesn't control you!</a> 878 (by RMS)</li> 879 </ul> 880 881 <h4 id="access">Accessing culture</h4> 882 <ul class="no-bullet"> 883 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[1996-2016]</span>' 884 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 885 <a href="/philosophy/right-to-read.html"> 886 The Right to Read: A Dystopian Short Story</a> 887 (by RMS)</li> 888 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2012]</span>' 889 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 890 <a href="/philosophy/ebooks-must-increase-freedom.html"> 891 Ebooks must increase our freedom, not decrease it</a> 892 (by RMS)</li> 893 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2011]</span>' 894 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 895 <a href="/philosophy/the-danger-of-ebooks.html"> 896 The Danger of E-Books</a> 897 (by RMS)</li> 898 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2010]</span>' 899 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 900 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2010/apr/06/digital-economy-bill-richard-stallman"> 901 Digital economy bill: One clown giveth and the other clown taketh away</a> 902 (by RMS, on <i>theguardian.com</i>)</li> 903 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2000]</span>' 904 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 905 <a href="/philosophy/ebooks.html"> 906 Ebooks: Freedom Or Copyright</a> 907 (by RMS)</li> 908 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2000]</span>' 909 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 910 <a href="/encyclopedia/free-encyclopedia.html"> 911 The Free Universal Encyclopedia and Learning Resource</a> 912 (by RMS)</li> 913 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999]</span>' 914 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 915 <a href="/philosophy/new-monopoly.html"> 916 U.S. Congress Threatens to Establish a New Kind of Monopoly</a> 917 — An attempt of the Congress to create a private monopoly over 918 repeating publicly known information.</li> 919 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999]</span>' 920 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 921 <a href="/philosophy/stophr3028.html"> 922 Stop H.R. 3028 - Protect the Net - Stop the Trademark Monopolists</a> 923 (by Marc Rotenberg)</li> 924 </ul> 925 926 <h4 id="funding">Funding cultural works</h4> 927 <ul class="no-bullet"> 928 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2013]</span>' 929 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 930 <a href="/philosophy/funding-art-vs-funding-software.html"> 931 Funding Art vs Funding Software</a> 932 (by RMS)</li> 933 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1992]</span>' 934 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 935 <a href="/philosophy/dat.html"> 936 The Right Way to Tax DAT</a> 937 (by RMS)</li> 938 </ul> 939 940 <h4 id="evils">Surveillance, censorship, lock-in, etc.</h4> 941 942 <ul class="no-bullet"> 943 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2013… ]</span>' 944 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 945 <a href="/proprietary/proprietary.html"> 946 Proprietary Software Is Often Malware</a> 947 — Clearly established cases of proprietary software that does 948 nasty things to the users.</li> 949 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[2015-2019]</span>' 950 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 951 <a href="/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html"> 952 How Much Surveillance Can Democracy Withstand?</a> 953 (by RMS)</li> 954 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2021]</span>' 955 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 956 <a href="/philosophy/wwworst-app-store.html"> 957 The WWWorst App Store</a> 958 (by Alexandre Oliva)</li> 959 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2018]</span>' 960 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 961 <a href="/philosophy/phone-anonymous-payment.html"> 962 Anonymous Payment by Phone</a> 963 (by RMS)</li> 964 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2018]</span>' 965 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 966 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/03/facebook-abusing-data-law-privacy-big-tech-surveillance"> 967 A radical proposal to keep your personal data safe</a> 968 (by RMS, on <i>theguardian.com</i>)</li> 969 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2018]</span>' 970 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 971 <a href="/philosophy/surveillance-testimony.html"> 972 Surveillance Testimony</a> 973 (by RMS)</li> 974 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2012]</span>' 975 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 976 <a href="/philosophy/ubuntu-spyware.html"> 977 Ubuntu Spyware: What to Do?</a> 978 (by RMS)</li> 979 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2009]</span>' 980 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 981 <a href="/philosophy/microsoft.html"> 982 Is Microsoft the Great Satan?</a> 983 [<a href="/philosophy/microsoft-old.html">older version</a>]</li> 984 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2008]</span>' 985 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 986 <a href="/philosophy/the-root-of-this-problem.html"> 987 The Problem Is Software Controlled By Its Developer</a> 988 (by RMS)</li> 989 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2008]</span>' 990 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 991 <a href="/philosophy/gates.html"> 992 It's not the Gates, it's the bars</a> 993 (by RMS)</li> 994 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2002]</span>' 995 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 996 <a href="/philosophy/wassenaar.html"> 997 The Wassenaar Arrangement</a> 998 — Encryption software volunteers needed in countries without 999 export control.</li> 1000 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2002]</span>' 1001 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 1002 <a href="/philosophy/ms-doj-tunney.html"> 1003 FSF's Statement in Response to Proposed Revised Final Judgment in 1004 <cite>Microsoft v. United States</cite></a></li> 1005 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2000]</span>' 1006 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 1007 <a href="/philosophy/microsoft-verdict.html"> 1008 On the Microsoft Verdict</a></li> 1009 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999]</span>' 1010 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 1011 <a href="/philosophy/microsoft-antitrust.html"> 1012 The Microsoft Antitrust Trial and Free Software</a></li> 1013 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1996]</span>' 1014 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 1015 <a href="/philosophy/privacyaction.html"> 1016 Protect Postal Privacy</a> 1017 (by Kathleen Ellis) 1018 — A campaign to resist the proposed rule by the United States 1019 Postal Service to collect private information from customers.</li> 1020 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1996]</span>' 1021 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 1022 <a href="/philosophy/basic-freedoms.html"> 1023 Freedoms of Speech, Press, and Association</a> 1024 — How to protect these freedoms on the Internet.</li> 1025 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1996]</span>' 1026 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 1027 <a href="/philosophy/censoring-emacs.html"> 1028 Censoring My Software</a> 1029 (by RMS)</li> 1030 </ul> 1031 1032 1033 <h3 id="terminology">Terminology and Definitions</h3> 1034 1035 <ul class="no-bullet"> 1036 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">*[1996… ]</span>' 1037 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 1038 <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html"> 1039 Words to Avoid (or Use with Care) Because They Are Loaded or Confusing</a></li> 1040 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1999… ]</span>' 1041 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 1042 <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html"> 1043 Translations of the term “free software”</a> 1044 into various languages.</li> 1045 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[1996-2019]</span>' 1046 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 1047 <a href="/philosophy/categories.html"> 1048 Categories of Free and Nonfree Software</a></li> 1049 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2013]</span>' 1050 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 1051 <a href="/philosophy/why-call-it-the-swindle.html"> 1052 Why Call It The Swindle?</a> 1053 (by RMS)</li> 1054 <li><!--#set var='DATE' value='<span class="date-tag">[2002]</span>' 1055 --><!--#echo encoding='none' var='DATE' --> 1056 <a href="/philosophy/wipo-PublicAwarenessOfCopyright-2002.html"> 1057 Public Awareness of Copyright, WIPO, June 2002</a> 1058 (by RMS) 1059 — How WIPO recognizes that their system is designed to restrict 1060 the public, and how they propose to modify terminology so that people 1061 won't notice.</li> 1062 </ul> 1063 1064 1065 <h3 id="humor">Philosophical humor</h3> 1066 1067 <p><a href="/fun/humor.html#Philosophy">Laugh along with GNU (Philosophy)</a> 1068 — We don't have to be serious <i>all</i> the time.</p> 1069 </div> 1070 1071 </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above --> 1072 <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" --> 1073 <div id="footer" role="contentinfo"> 1074 <div class="unprintable"> 1075 1076 <p>Please send general FSF & GNU inquiries to <a 1077 href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><gnu@gnu.org></a>. There are also <a 1078 href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a> the FSF. Broken links and other 1079 corrections or suggestions can be sent to <a 1080 href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><webmasters@gnu.org></a>.</p> 1081 1082 <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph, 1083 replace it with the translation of these two: 1084 1085 We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality 1086 translations. 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