Basically, the author of the article is complaining about the fact that some of the software included with distributions is non-free (not OSS-compatible). That software includes netscape, gif-display/manipulation software, and mp3 players (while the software is free, the algorithms used in the software are at least of questionable freedom). For more than obvious reasons, the distro maintainers have decided to keep this software, in essence agreeing to less than perfect license terms in favor of providing a useful operating environment. The author failed to note, however, that companies such as Red Hat have unrestricted re-distribution rights to the netscape browser, which propagates to users being able to share and distribute media; and the fact that they also plan to drop netscape completely, or at least de-select it from installations, as soon as Mozilla is gold.
-Tim On Mon, 2002-04-08 at 11:29, Kory Wnuk wrote: > I am not sure that I understand the point being made > here. Are you suggesting that the author of the > editorial has failed to make a distinction between > free as in "free-speech" and free as in beer? Are we > bringing in the subtleties associated with software > licensed under the GPL? > > -M > > --- Edmund Cramp <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Is this a problem - how much do you expect to get > > for free? > > > > TNSTAAFL (Google for "TANSTAAFL Heinlein" if you > > need a clue) > > > > -- > > Edmund Cramp > > http://www.emgsrus.com/graffiti.htm > > ===== > Failure is NOT an option! That is why I use Linux... > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax > http://taxes.yahoo.com/ > ================================================ > BRLUG - The Baton Rouge Linux User Group > Visit http://www.brlug.net for more information. > Send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] to change > your subscription information. > ================================================ ================================================ BRLUG - The Baton Rouge Linux User Group Visit http://www.brlug.net for more information. Send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] to change your subscription information. ================================================
