"Carsten Agger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > This means that even when more and more free software becomes > available, people might still become increasingly obliged to use > non-free software through the web, or to use free software as web > applications under conditions where the four freedoms don't apply. I'm > sure the question isn't new and others could state it much more > eloquently, but ... > > is the an answer, and which would be the right one?
The question isn't that new. There even exists a license for this question, the Affero GPL[0]. The FSF currently works the GNU Affero GPLv3[1] which will be compatible to GPLv3. Simplified the Affero GPL says that if you use Free Software licensed under the Affero GPL as a web service you have to give all users of this service a copy of the source code and all rights defined by the Affero GPL. Basically it extends "distribute" to "offering web services". I think the crucial point is that if you use such a web service ultimately you don't know what software runs on the server and what will happen to your data. So whether you will get a copy of the source code or not, you become dependent on the service provider and lose control over your computing. Personally i would avoid using web services whenever it is feasible and prefer to use software that runs on my own computer so that i have the full control over it. [0] http://www.affero.org/oagpl.html [1] http://gplv3.fsf.org/agplv3-dd1-guide.html -- Join the Fellowship and protect your freedom! (http://www.fsfe.org) _______________________________________________ Discussion mailing list [email protected] https://mail.fsfeurope.org/mailman/listinfo/discussion
