Fwd: Re: [rms@gnu.org: Nonprofits and free software]

To have his post completely in our archives:

>From: Richard Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
>To: Stefan Probst <stefan.probst@opticom.v-nam.net>
>CC: pubsoft@isoc.org
>Reply-to: rms@gnu.org
>Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 00:43:26 -0500
>Subject: Re: [PubSoft] [rms@gnu.org: Nonprofits and free software]
>
> Imagine that you are in a fairly lawless situation. No licenses. No law
> enforcement. (Yes, there are laws, but they are not/cannot be enforced).
> If everybody can "look at the source", then in this situation, all the
> other benefits follow more or less automatically.
>
>That is true for the moment, but it won't remain so. The companies'
>strategy is to let poor countries become dependent on proprietary
>software; then they clamp down harshly. The impression that people
>are safe using software disregarding its restrictive licenses is,
>unfortunately, a mistake.
>
>So is the idea that being able to see the source is enough to give
>them freedom.
>
> . "Open Source Software" works without much explanation and background
> understanding,
>
>What you mean by "works" does not include understanding what they're
>doing. If people do the right thing, it's an accident, and you can't
>expect it to continue.

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