LinuxDevCenter: Degrees of Openness

“The open source software movement has received a lot of press
coverage in recent years. A result of this is many people
associating the term ‘open’ with open source software. This popular
definition of ‘openness’ is incomplete. Openness affects many
aspects of computing besides freedom to view and modify source
code. Shrewd proprietary computer companies have been able to take
advantage of popular misconceptions about openness, masking their
products in partial degrees of openness, then applying the ‘open’
label. We should understand the different forms of openness and how
they apply to the many facets of computers, software, systems, and
even warranties and service agreements…”

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