On Fri, 2003-08-08 at 03:10, Brian T. Sniffen wrote: ... > I think this era isn't very different from that of 15 years ago. RMS, > and the FSF, are spooked by the success of web service providers. > They didn't seem very upset by modems, remote terminals, and > timesharing systems, though. I think they're just experiencing > culture shock, and are overreacting to something which really isn't an > important change. > > Worse, they're adding a sufficient encumbrance to networking computer > systems to lock code available only under an APSL/Affero style license > out of networked environments. If they succeed in promulgating these > ideas, they'll hinder growth of networked systems. Perhaps a good way > of summing up the problem is this: > > They're discriminating against a field of endeavor. Now, it's Free to > discriminate against a business model, such as "A monopoly on software > in boxes on shelves." It's not Free to discriminate against a use > model, such as "running nuclear power plants." This is discrimination > against both a business model (web services providers) and a use model > (providing access to computers over a network).
This is a brilliant summary. If your compelling reasoning is correct you're not only placed the issue into the context of the DFSG but done so in a straightforward way within one paragraph. Wow! Regards, Adam