How Will Steam on GNU/Linux Affect Software Freedom?

rms has published his thoughts on Steam coming to GNU/Linux. He notes that the availability of proprietary games may very well help spread GNU/Linux (but the FSF prioritizes spreading software freedom). And, you're better off at least having a Free operating system instead of Windows: "My guess is that the direct good effect will be bigger than the direct harm. But there is also an indirect effect: what does the use of these games teach people in our community? Any GNU/Linux distro that comes with software to offer these games will teach users that the point is not freedom. Nonfree software in GNU/Linux distros already works against the goal of freedom. Adding these games to a distro would augment that effect." Or: How will the FOSS community affect Valve? Already they've contributed a bit to the graphics stack, hired a few folks from inside the community, etc. But Steam also makes use of DRM and distributes software in ways that are opposed to the ideals of many in the FOSS community (and even the wider Free Culture community). Given Gabe Newell's professed love for openness, might we see their company culture infiltrated?

Comments

I dont have to be a free software advocate

[russotto]

to say fuck DRM and fuck Steam. To support DRM is to be on the side of the DMCA, SOPA, the RIAA, the MPAA, the Business Software Alliance, and that whole list of bad laws and bad organizations which support them. If you think you've found a legitimate use, you're probably mistaken. But even if you're not, helping bastards like them do something not-evil is still helping bastards like them.

Re:Ideology in Technology

[hairyfeet]

And YOU sir are why the vast majority avoid Linux like the clap. did you even read what you wrote? You might as well have said "Sure we'll let Steam onto Linux we'll just make sure its hard to find and a PITA but hey, that's freedom, right?" because what is it Linux users ALWAYS fucking push? the damned repos. yet here you are saying "Nope, not gonna allow them in, no sir".

So why in the hell would a normal person WANT your OS, if you're just gonna act like self righteous assholes and make it difficult to get the software THEY WANT on their own systems, hmm?

In the end old Gabe better get on one knee and pucker up, ready to kiss some MSFT booty. because if THAT is the attitude he is gonna face on Linux he might as well be pissing in the wind.