K5: 'Is Richard Stallman's Fight For "GNU/Linux" Suicide?'

[Lutz Horn]

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
-- 
Lutz Horn <lh at lutz-horn.de>
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