[Top][All Lists]
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: [OT] free software vs open source was: Re: codesearch.el 1.0 --- Sea
From: |
Richard Stallman |
Subject: |
Re: [OT] free software vs open source was: Re: codesearch.el 1.0 --- Search for code via Google Code Search |
Date: |
Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:09:37 -0400 |
From what I've read I'd expect
that free software is a subset of open source software (i.e. not all open
source software is free in the sense that it protects our freedoms).
That looks like a common misunderstanding, based on confusing "free"
with "copyleft". A license is a free software license if it respects
the four freedoms. Copyleft licenses go further and defend the four
freedoms. However, there are non-copyleft free software licenses,
including the original BSD license, the revised BSD license, and the
X11 license. See http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html for
more info.
Free software and open source are the names of two philosophical
camps. The free software camp is concerned about freedom; the open
source camp says it is not important. By choosing the term "free software"
we direct attention towards issues of freedom. That is very important.