Re: [Fsuk-manchester] Ubuntu !free

[Dave Crossland]

2008/5/21 Noah Slater <address@hidden>:
> On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 08:52:40PM +0100, MJ Ray wrote:
>
>> Network effects.  The bank's crap software works better with other
>> software from the same supplier, so it encourages the bank's customers
>> to abandon their freedom.  Slightly surprised Stallman stated that.
>
> I see no compelling ethical or societal reasons why a company should be
> obligated to share the source code for it's in-house software systems.

This is really a free formats issue.

> I own a substantial collection of media, both electronic and physical. I have
> paintings, poems, essays and other creative works I have produced over the 
> years
> for my private enjoyment and use. All these things exist in my house or 
> various
> other private places that I control.
>
> I see this situation as analogous, do you think I am ethically obligated to
> share all of these private or personal things with you?

No, but if you do distribute them, you may require proprietary
software to view those things, but you have an ethical obligation to
not require proprietary software.

-- 
Regards,
Dave

I support www.gnuherds.org -
democratic free software jobs