Re: [AUCTeX-devel] Hello and a question about missing AUCTeX features

[Jorge A. Alfaro-Murillo]

Hi Marcin.

Marcin Borkowski writes:

> (i) why is FSF so secretive about the copyright papers, that 
> they are not available on the Internet?

They are different for every person depending on the circumstances 
(for example, your current employment policies). They will ask you 
a couple of questions via email before sending you the draft of 
the document, also via email.

> (ii) what are the exact consequences of signing the papers, and 
> is it possible to withdraw the agreement for the FSF to have 
> copyright on things I write (excluding, of course, things 
> written/given away before said withdrawal)?

Why don't you ask for the papers, read them and decide if you want 
to sign them or not?

I signed mine for emacs and AUCTeX recently. Pretty much all they 
say is that you give copyright for your past and future 
contributions TO THE SPECIFIC SOFTWARE (for example, AUCTeX) to 
the FSF. It doesn't cover anything beyond that specific software.

> (iii) why is "promoting proprietary software" not tolerated (and 
> actively fought against) on FSF's MLs, and /at the same time/ 
> hostility against people writing (in good faith, as I believe) 
> about their "non-free" projects (related to the "free" software 
> discussed on that ML!) is tolerated (and maybe even encouraged)?

Even when I do not understand what "non-free" projects you think 
are encouraged in FSF lists, this question is very philosophical, 
it only reflects on the average behavior of users of the lists, 
and it is not relevant to the issue of you asking for the FSF 
copyright papers.

Related to email lists of FSF projects, this list is one of the 
nicest ones that I am subscribed to. If Marcin would have posted 
this message in gmane.emacs.orgmode and even more in 
gmane.emacs.help, I am sure he would have gotten more nasty 
replies. People here are really helpful and nice. So thank you all 
for that!

Best,
--
Jorge.