FSFLA: Linux kernel is “open core”

“Linux hasn’t got any Freer between the Linux-2.6.33-libre
announcement, back in March, and the present announcement, that
marks the release of Linux-2.6.36-libre. Linux now contains more
non-Free Software, and more drivers in its Free core that require
separately distributed non-Free Software to function. The welcome
news is that Open Source advocates have joined the Free Software
Movement in denouncing the practice of Free Bait or Open Core.
http://www.fsfla.org/anuncio/2010-03-Linux-2.6.33-libre
http://linux-libre.fsfla.org/pub/linux-libre/releases/LAT…

“OSI director Simon Phipps writes “Open Core Is Bad For You”,
“it’s a game on software freedom”, “it’s a bait-and-switch,
wrapping the same old lock-in in the flag of open source and hoping
you won’t notice.” Bait-and-switch is a deceptive commercial
practice in which one product is announced to attract customers, to
sell another instead.
http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/simon-says/2010/06/open-…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait_and_switch

“OSI director Andrew C. Oliver adds that “Open Core puts the
software user at a disadvantage in the same way that all
proprietary software puts the user at a disadvantage”

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