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Let's take a step back and look at the goals of free software. It's not just to modify and tweak things I own, it's to allow me to modify, enhance and contri
by shuw 14y ago
Let's take a step back and look at the goals of free software. It's not just to modify and tweak things I own, it's to allow me to modify, enhance and contribute that work back to the community.
By that yardstick, most textbooks and eyeglasses are not free.
I can't improve a textbook and put it online. I can't put my improved sunglasses on the market (even if it was non-profit).
So why are people revolted by a copywrited and patented (hence unfree) OS, but have no qualms using other non-free products?
Personally, I think free and proprietary products can co-exist. Both models produce innovations which ultimately benefit society.
- chimeracoder 14y ago> By that yardstick, most textbooks and eyeglasses are not free. I can't improve a textbook .... I can't put my improved sunglasses on the market (even if it was non-profit). Yes you can - the product in that case is physical, not digital. You can certainly turn the pages of a book into an origami creation and sell that on a secondary market if that's what you want to do. You can sell modified copies of physical products to your heart's content.
- shuw 14y ago> You can sell modified copies of physical products to your heart's content. Yes, but only in a very limited way. You've only mentioned examples where I can modify the original physical atoms. I cannot modify and re-distribute the ideas present in textbooks. It is those ideas that have the most value, not the paper it's printed on.