[Koha-devel] Open Source or Free Software?

[Joshua Ferraro]

Hi All:
Koha is often referred to as an "open source" project (definition at 
http://www.opensource.org/osd.html. Do we also characterize it as "free 
software" (definition at http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html)?  I know 
that in practice, nearly all software meeting one definition also meets the 
other, I was just wondering what everyone thinks about the distinction.
To my mind, there are advantages to both terms.  "Open source" is more widely 
known (at least around here) and expresses the "openness" of the code.  "Free 
software" (as in free speech) comes closer to the library concept of free 
access to information; it also (conveniently) covers the monetary aspect of 
things (after all, the software is available at no cost).
Joshua