> Oh, and should Patrick McNamara and the OHF follow suit?  Asking him
> to change OHF to something else is about like asking Traversal to
> change its name.  Some things are much harder to do, so this is
> entirely up to him and his board members.  But I just thought I'd
> mention the idea.

That would be somewhat difficult right now as it would require filing and 
amendment to the articles of incorporation which are currently working their 
way through the cog that is the state goverment of Texas.  

I certainly understand RMS' postion on "free" vs "open" and generally agree 
with him, though I differ on some points.  I am a bit more pragmatic with an 
undertone of idealism.  Still, I have concerns about using the word "free" in 
the title of a hardware project or the Foundation.  While it does pose less of 
an issue than "open" in terms of confusing meanings, the big confusion it does 
have, between free beer and free speech, causes significant issue with 
hardware.  In the general sense we will never be producing free as in beer 
hardware.  This means that any packaging or press materials that reference 
"free hardware" will cause serious problems in the general problem.  In the 
lawsuit happy US, I can certain see someone saying "It said there was free 
hardware in the box.  I didn't get anything free.  I'll sue for false 
advertising!"  So yes that may be an exageration, but only a little.

Patrick M



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