GNU Business Network Definition comments

[Ben Finney]

On 26-Jun-2006, Georg C. F. Greve wrote:
> Proprietary software always seeks to establish a monopoly, and
> always means control over others on a very intimate level. So I
> don't ever think that doing business based on proprietary software a
> good or acceptable idea.

Thanks for succinctly expressing what I've wanted to say a number of
times in this thread.

> That said: Different forms of proprietary software have differences
> in the strength and range of impact. Also this world is not perfect,
> and change takes time.
> 
> So we should IMHO always criticise proprietary software, but give
> people a chance to change, supporting them for taking steps in the
> right direction.

Yes. I don't think we should hide the goal we're seeking: for all
software to be free, and for no organisation to act contrary to users'
freedom.

That doesn't mean we can't note specific progress made toward that
ideal. It does mean we must be very careful to endorse business
practices only to the extent they move the business toward that ideal,
and not as a satisfactory end in themselves.

-- 
 \      "I went to a garage sale. 'How much for the garage?' 'It's not |
  `\                                     for sale.'"  -- Steven Wright |
_o__)                                                                  |
Ben Finney <ben at benfinney.id.au>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: signature.asc
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 197 bytes
Desc: Digital signature
URL: <http://lists.fsfe.org/pipermail/discussion/attachments/20060626/c52af44d/attachment.sig>