Hi all,
On Thu, May 17, 2001 at 12:49:50PM +0200, Frank Heckenbach wrote:
josX wrote:
<snip> I stand proven.
Err, did you actually read the article? It advocates *more* business friendly Linux systems. Or did you suddenly change your mind?
I think what josX means is that putting to much emphasis on the business side of free software produces types like the original author who can only think in terms of business. Focusing on a compatibility between the GNU GPL and commercial applications will _not_ make people think about why software/information/people wants to be free but how they can make money out of it. From this it's only a small step to drop the notion of free software as in GNU/Linux in favor of the well being of the "Linux community", whatever that may be.
Of course the original author has no clue what free software is all about. But the FSFE should avoid any statements which further this kind of thinking. And I repeat: by stating the compatibility between free software and commercial use the FSFE is doing exactly this.
"And, whether we think it does or not, the Linux community needs businesses to support it."
Well, this is of course bullshit. Again this sheds light on the way some people (not the FSF(E), of course) use some kind of "Linux community" to argue for their own commercial gain.
"an alleged system of unprofitability does nothing but harms the entire community."
same thing
Regards Lutz