>>> On 10/1/2015 at 02:58 PM, Tom Brennan <[email protected]> wrote: > Jack J. Woehr wrote: >> Have you looked at the price of RedHat stock lately? There's plenty of >> money in free: you charge for support! > > I certainly agree! But I'm not sure it's related (unless that's the > point I'm missing). So let's say you give me source code (free speech) > and I compile it and use it (free beer), without needing your help > because you wrote it so well. Didn't I just get beer for free?
Yes. But that's not the point of the distinction. The point is that you may get the software for no cost, or for some cost. BUT, no one can take away the _freedom_ you have to use that software in any way you want. The emphasis on the slogan is on the freedom part _for everyone_, not just the person that created the software. The slogan was created to get native English speakers to think about the freedom aspect, and not think that it only related to price. If you're really curious, there are lots and lots of resources on the web that talk about a lot of the implications of this, both for the author and people who want to use the software for various other purposes. But, for the FSF, the main thrust is that Free/Libre software can't be made proprietary by others, and you can't be restricted in what personal use you want to make of it. Mark Post ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
