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Why people don’t use free software

“The whole idea runs so counter to the average user’s experience
that the concept of free software is simply too much for them to
accept.

“When the personal computer was introduced thirty years ago, a
set of assumptions about software quickly emerged. In the
prevailing industry view, software is a commodity, and users are
consumers.

“Unlike most commodities, however, software is licensed, not
bought, and offers users few rights as consumers. Users have little
input into features, and, if they can’t get the software to work,
they usually have trouble getting refunds on the grounds that they
might be illegally copying it. In fact, they are told (with dubious
legality and after they have opened the box) that by opening the
box they have waived their rights to copy, lend, or do most other
things that they can do with other consumer items.”


Complete Story

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