On 3/14/07, Alfred M. Szmidt ams@gnu.org wrote:
Please drop the raffle! You are still going to distribute non-free software to people. Try to set a good example for others to follow. Would it be OK for Ubuntu to distribute non-free drivers with their system with a message that makes it clear that they are hoping that someone will someday write a free replacement? Of course not! So why is the FSFE doing this?
Non-free software is simply not acceptable, that the FSFE is giving the message that it is is sad, and really makes me wonder what the goal of the FSFE is, freedom or promoting non-free software to people.
As a FSFE Fellow, I renew firmly my support to the FSFE.
However, I think the FSFE should admit a lack of (social, more than technical and ethical) analysis of this raffle; then, although with some little merit about "hardware liberation", to prevent useless fractures between FSF and FSFE, non free hardware should be removed from the raffle and returned to the "donor" with a big "NO THANKS"; furthermore we shouldn't accept anything from a Company who support sw patents (http://eupat.ffii.org/acteurs/nokia/index.en.html).
PS
FSF members, FSFE fellows, GNU developers and anyone caring and working for freedom must be heard, and have the right, earned with work (always better than money) to be taken in account.
bye --- Stefano Spinucci FSFE Fellow