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Read the posting, it's not about that. One may dislike Stallman (as I do, and as I think the author does) and think he does a poor job (as I do) and still disc

by Arnt 6y ago

Read the posting, it's not about that. One may dislike Stallman (as I do, and as I think the author does) and think he does a poor job (as I do) and still discuss a separate issue: The FSF's mission in the world of 2021. That's what he tries to do. Even if one thinks think Stallman is whatever, that doesn't mean that the FSF should stop caring about software staying free, or users having the ability to modify their software. AFAICT, the FSF's main response to the modern SaaS trend is largely to ignore it, and want the problem to become something that the GPL might solve. Ignoring it won't make SaaS go away, and neither will it change its effect on software freedom. IMO it's a pity of the FSF shoots itself in the foot by ignoring the world's changes, and also if the FSF shoots itself in the foot by hiring someone like Stallman for a campaigner position. One doesn't have to like Stallman or agree with the FSF's goals to think it desirable that the foundation should do a good job. Pluralism is IMO good and desirable for a society. There was an "Affero GPL", wasnt there? I didn't try to learn about it, but wasn't that an attempt at reaching the GPL's goals in a SaaS-dominated world?

dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
What exactly you propose should be done? Affero GPL simply didn't work. People use GPL when they want specifically to contribute to Free Software or BSD/MIT-style when they don't particularly care about using the code in proprietary product. What is your solution to AWS-style free rider problem in SaaS?
- Arnt 6y ago
  Oh, if it were up to me I'd say that MIT/BSD/Apache-style licenses are ideal. Simple enough to be understandable, offend noone, and bring as much contribution as anything else in my experience. I do not agree with the FSF so I don't have to work towards its goals. However, the mere fact that I do not agree with the FSF's goals doesn't make it okay for the FSF (and those who agree with it) to do a substandard job by hiring a badly suited person as campaigner or by ignoring major developments such as the rise of SaaS.

by Arnt 6y ago

dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago

What exactly you propose should be done? Affero GPL simply didn't work. People use GPL when they want specifically to contribute to Free Software or BSD/MIT-style when they don't particularly care about using the code in proprietary product. What is your solution to AWS-style free rider problem in SaaS?

Arnt 6y ago
Oh, if it were up to me I'd say that MIT/BSD/Apache-style licenses are ideal. Simple enough to be understandable, offend noone, and bring as much contribution as anything else in my experience. I do not agree with the FSF so I don't have to work towards its goals. However, the mere fact that I do not agree with the FSF's goals doesn't make it okay for the FSF (and those who agree with it) to do a substandard job by hiring a badly suited person as campaigner or by ignoring major developments such as the rise of SaaS.