“Today Richard M. Stallman, founder and president of the Free
Software Foundation (FSF), addressed the members of the Brazilian
Congress on the issues of free software, the ethics of copyright,
and the dangers of software patents. Stallman stressed both the
ethical and practical importance of free software, which grants
other developers the freedom to examine and improve the software.
He also discussed issues of copyright and patents, and how they
should be interpreted in terms of freedom for software users and
programmers.”
“I find in Brazil considerable awareness that free software is a
social and political issue as well as a practical and economic
one,” Dr. Stallman said. “The programmers and users that I have met
here are very receptive to the ideas of freedom that free software
represents.”
“Dr. Stallman visited the Brazilian Congress as a guest of
Congressperson Walter Pinheiro. Dr. Stallman’s visit is indicative
of the rising interest in free software in Brazil, which represents
the largest growing market for hardware and software in Latin
America.”