Windows TechEdge: The real meaning of 'free' | Linux Today

Windows TechEdge: The real meaning of ‘free’

Written By
Web Webster
Web Webster
Apr 4, 1999

“In your article [“Open source software for Windows NT” by Rawn
Shah], you imply that free software, which is defined by the GPL,
and open source, which is defined by OpenSource.org, are
equivalent. There are a number of ideas for “OSS” software in your
article that would be allowable under some OSS licenses but not
under the GPL — that is, with free software. You are thereby
implying that they are allowable under the idea “free software.”
Your article totally fails to capture the spirit or idea of both
free and open source software. You spend a large amount of time
discussing how to make money whilst limiting your customer’s
freedom of software usage.”

“Please, before you write another article on this, immerse
yourself for a while in the OSS community…”


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Web Webster

Web Webster

Web Webster has more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience in the tech sector. He’s written and edited news, demand generation, user-focused, and thought leadership content for business software solutions, consumer tech, and Linux Today, he edits and writes for a portfolio of tech industry news and analysis websites including webopedia.com, and DatabaseJournal.com.

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