[Fsfe-ie] 1-page letter, faxes at the ready (IFSO, irish org)

[Niall Douglas]

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On 26 Sep 2003 at 3:19, David Golden wrote:

I'll take this off list and reply to you tomorrow. I didn't actually 
mean to make my views so public on this particular list but anyone 
interested can see plenty more on the fsfeurope discussion list 
archives.

Cheers,
Niall

> On Thu 25 Sep 2003 21:44, Niall Douglas wrote:
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> > What's wrong with using this list? It was only created very
> > recently, so we really can choose whatever direction we like for it.
> > So long as it's generally about free software with an irish
> > perspective, you're fine.
> >
> 
> Well, my first post to this list and it may seem a bit harsh :-( :
> 
>  I've been lurking for some time, as this list is a place where really
>  strong 
> anti-software-patent action has been happening.  Plus I'm Irish and
> interested in the FSF, though I'm not 100% in agreement with the FSF,
> myself (they're far too moderate and reasonable altogether... ). 
> 
> However, I figured I'd better get this out in the open right at the
> start:
> 
> You posted (on tuesday) some comments about the GPL being non-free...
> 
> That seems an odd (read: absurd) stance for an FSF list, and one
> direction that really would seem a tad inappropriate for the list to
> take while it is under the "FSF" banner.   You may have been joking or
> sarcastic, of course, and I'm not suggesting it's a _discussion_
> that's inappropriate for the list (though it's been done to death over
> the years and gets kinda boring), but as a _direction_ I'd like to
> state my not-so-humble opinion right now that it's pretty damn silly. 
>  
> 
> Of course, academically, the GPL isn't totally "free" like "I release
> this into the public domain" would be. Perhaps that's all you meant,
> but I don't really know. 
> 
> Of course, what would be even freer would be if copyright didn't exist
> at all.     
> 
> The GPL is designed to try to preserve some of the freedom that
> existed before software ("applied discrete mathematics") became
> copyrightable late last century.  It's doing a damn good job in the
> anti-free environment that the current crop of infofascists (WIPO
> etc.) have produced.  While the GPL would be unenforceable in the
> absence of software copyright and patent law, it would also be
> unnecessary, as people have pointed out ad nauseum.
> 
> Copyleft only acts "un-free" to those who would, secretly or
> otherwise, wish to "own" information under copyright law themselves
> and thus restrict the freedom of others.  I don't give a shit if some
> people can't sit on their arses and "sell" infinitely-replicable
> information patterns of software as an artificially-scarce "product"
> once the GPL takes over.  I could still make a packet on computers,
> doing ACTUAL WORK of installation, configuration, operational support,
> "bespoke" new development and so on, even in the complete absence of
> software copyrights (and patents).
> 
> While the current furore has temporarily united in opposition to
> patents many proprietary and free software people, I would not be in
> favour of pandering to proprietary interests on an FSF list - I'm not
> one of those wishy-washy "peaceful coexistence with proprietary
> software" open-source types.  That's like "peaceful coexistence" with
> an aggressive mucormycosis.
> 
> By now you may be saying "If I Ever Meet You I Will Kick Your Ass",
> but I really don't care - I'm a just bit paranoid about fifth
> columnists, a (Microsoft-favorite) strategy that has been used to try
> to destroy computing things before (with varying degrees of success -
> e.g. even the Amiga still has a kind of unholy walking-death, though I
> prefer to stay away from the shambling horror and try to remember it
> as it once was...)
> 
>  [quavery schlock horror voice] I know people have gone to Microsoft
>  Research, 
> and come back... different... [/quavery schlock horror voice] ... like
> invasion of the bodysnatchers different, or "I read Dianetics  and
> know that Scientology can help me" different...
> 
> David Golden.
> 
> 
> 
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