On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:34:20 +0200, David Kastrup <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>Al Klein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > >> On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 05:51:06 +0200, David Kastrup <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>>Al Klein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >>> >>>> And, in the English-speaking world, "free" is almost always (let's >>>> say by millions to one, at least) used, when used with a product, to >>>> mean "with no charge". *VERY FEW* people use free as in freedom >>>> when using it to modify the name of a product or product type. >>> >>>When we are talking about the sort of medium in which expressions are >>>subject to copyright? >> >> No, when we're using the term free software or the word freeware. > >Software is a medium in which expressions are subject to copyright. If I choose to release software I've written without copyright, that's my choice and my right. >Welcome to the 21st century. Welcome to reality. >>>Free speech, free press, free software, patent free, free arts? >> Free gas, free milk, free beer? >Those happen not to be subject to copyright. Or the flu, but so what? If I release a program, with no price, but without source and with restrictions on redistribution, modification, etc., it's still free. >> The press, patents and the arts aren't items that get sold - >> software, gas, milk and beer are. >Software is not sold. Software CAN BE SOLD - if I write it I can sell it. (And do, all the time.) >>Think of the children's learning game, "which of these doesn't >>belong?" Software doesn't belong with the press, patents and the >>arts. >I am afraid that you need to get out of the stone age at some point of >time. I did. A long time ago. I didn't get into this business yesterday. Or this century. Or last decade. Or ... (Stop me when I pass the day you were born.) >The very _definition_ of software is that it is, in contrast to >hardware, intangible. Unlike gas, milk and beer. But just like the written word - which can be free (without cost) and it can be sold. -- It's back - http://www.webdingers.com/filelist.html _______________________________________________ gnu-misc-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-misc-discuss
