it's about the word "free", and the feeling that "you can modify and distribute this only if you accept my terms and restrictions" is perhaps a strange definiti

it's about the word "free", and the feeling that "you can modify and distribute this only if you accept my terms and restrictions" is perhaps a strange definition of that word. Only strange because you're framing the issue with individualism. The GPL was created by a socialist and values social freedom more highly than individual freedom. The two ideas of freedom are always in contention. Like the freedom to swing your fist wherever you like vs the freedom from getting hit in the face by random people. BSD: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_liberty http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_liberty GPL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_liberty http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_liberty