[Discuss] Profiting from GPL software

[smallm at SDF.ORG (Mike Small)]

On Tue, Nov 10, 2015 at 03:56:27PM -0500, Rich Pieri wrote:
> On 11/10/2015 2:53 PM, Mike Small wrote:
> >I like his term "cooperative software." This way of thinking solves
...
> 
> RMS can be.... Hm. Stubborn is a nicely politic word to use. He can be
> stubborn about words and what they mean in his mind. In a recent discussion
> about English words that mean free as in freedom in which he lamented the
> necessity of borrowing libre I suggested the word independence (as in
> "Declaration of"). Independence (or independent) software, as in independent
> from onerous, burdensome licenses.
> 
> His response was, and I quote, "I don't buy it."
> 
> I wasn't terribly surprised. RMS has gone on record that he listens to
> advice and criticism only from his supporters.

I'd have to agree with him on that as the word to pick, putting aside
observations about his personality (I haven't met him, though of course
him being stubborn is an idea that's out there). Even with your
explanation it's problematic. For instance, many of the BSD people
consider the GPL to be an "onerous, burdensome" license, so you
don't escape arguments with those folk.  Without the explanation it
calls to mind independent film or music. Fits in some sense perhaps
but tactically not good when his wish is to change the terms for
all software distribution not play in a niche. Maybe independent from
and free from are more or less synonymous but the connotations to me
for free work better, especially internationally. Maybe you as an
American (I assume) have certain associations surrounding the word
independence that he'd want to plug into, something having to do
with the war for independence from Britain perhaps, but the rest
of us don't have those. For me independence has connotations closer
to the sense of autonomy. e.g. proprietary software that lets me
do my taxes without help from an accountant might make me feel
independent but not particularly free.

They've gone with the word free since forever. Coining a new word
wouldn't be useful now (and it wasn't when Eric Raymond and Bruce
Perens did it either IMO). I'll think of it as cooperative software
but say free software.

-- 
Mike Small
smallm at sdf.org