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ESR Advocates Proprietary Software
mvdwege writes "Apparently, Eric Raymond has decided that proprietary software is now a good thing, according to The Register. I must say it is rather revealing how easily he is willing to compromise on this particular freedom. Is his earlier vocal proclamation of the importance of freedom (still visible on his homepage) mere posturing? And if so, how about his vocal support of other freedoms?"
News at 11.
How we know is more important than what we know.
I refuse to give away my software. If you won't pay for it, you won't get it without being a criminal and stealing it. In which case I can come down on you like a ton of bricks. I will not comprimise on this issue.
I refuse to touch Linux unless and until its license explicitly states that I can develop, run, and sell my software without having to give away its copyrighted source code and PATENTED technology. The current Linux license is so foggy, on that issue, its not a risk I am willing to take.
To be free MEANS I am free to sell the products of my efforts on my own terms to anyone who will accept them. If that means I don't use Linux, that's fine by me. Linux is not the product of my effort and I have no more right to it than its creators are willing to grant. We are each free to go our own way and must accept the consequences of our choices.