why free?

Ben Finney ben at benfinney.id.au
Tue Jul 19 00:40:39 UTC 2005


On 19-Jul-2005, Markus wrote:
> I agree that free software is always better and there is no argument
> which makes non-free software better because of the non-free
> license.

Good.

> But what i ask is: Is the license always the most important thinks
> or are there situations were other thinks are just more important?

Don't conflate the license and the freedom of the software user. A
copyright license is just one of many ways to grant or restrict a
user's freedom. Software idea patents, trademark restrictions,
non-disclosure agreements, et cetera are all tools used to affect the
freedom of software users.

A license isn't important. The freedom of the software's users is
important.

What is *most* important is for the individual to decide for
themselves.

-- 
 \           "We spend the first twelve months of our children's lives |
  `\          teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve years |
_o__)        telling them to sit down and shut up."  -- Phyllis Diller |
Ben Finney <ben at benfinney.id.au>
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