Information about the Free Software Foundation Europe

[Lord [INSERT NAME HERE]]

Armin Herbert wrote:
> 
> Hi.
> 
> On Donnerstag, 30. November 2000 21:09, Lord [INSERT NAME HERE] wrote:
> 
> > I think we need to come up with a simple, concise (one or two sentence)
> > explanation of Free Software that a layperson can understand. If someone
> > asks me "What is Free Software?", I don't want to have to launch into an
> > explanation of technical details (remember, many people are not even
> > aware of what "source code" means). Try as I might, I can't come up with
> > an explanaiton of this kind. Can anyone else?
> 
> Hm, I don't agree with this. Nowadays lawyers jugde about even more
> complicated things like webbrowsers that are built into an OS. Not to say
> that they do it well, but I think it shouldn't be too complicated to
> explain the facts to a lawyer.
> 
> Software = A program that can be run by a computer
> Source Code = The text a programmer has written that can be translated by a
> compiler so that computers can run it.
> Free Software = Software that is delivered along with its Source Code and
> the guarantee that anyone is allowed to run, reproduce, modify, translate
> etc the Code as long as he keeps the copyright.
> 
> Better definitions can be taken from the GPL.

That's all very well and good for lawyers and for long, detailed
articles. I was wondering if anyone could come up with something that
encapsulates the concept libre software for Joe Sixpack. Such a thing
would be invaluable for evangelising, but it looks like no-one else has
any etter ideas than me.

-- 
Lord [INSERT NAME HERE]
"Unlike Bill Clinton, I did inhale and from time to time still do."-
David McReynolds, Socialist Party USA presidential candidate

This has been an emergent property of the System. Goodnight.