Free Software Inc.
Someone had once said: “every hero needs a villain“. Taking this quote into account I had always been thinking that, in the proprietary vs open-source software debate, Microsoft (MS), with its “Get The Facts” campaign, represented the villain and the Free Software Foundation (FSF) was one of the heros promoting the benefits of open-source software.
Today, I was very dissapointed to read about the launch of an FSF campaign, called BadVista, which goes far beyond promoting open source software and criticizing Microsoft’s tactics, but tries to form a protest against Microsoft’s upcoming operating system, Windows Vista, before it is officially released to the public. In other words, the FSF is directly attacking a product as if it was a new rival in the operating systems market. This campaign is indeed something I would have never expected from a foundation. If Red Hat, Canonical or Mandriva was behind this campaign I would very well understand why and how. But with FSF something does not sound good.
Microsoft and its tactics had always been the villain of the debate. Now, that the FSF tries to use the same tactics against MS, I seriously doubt that it is still one of the heros. This campaign would rather suit a company, called “Free Software Incorporated“, but not the “Free Software Foundation“.
I use open-source software, not because I am the anti-MS type, but because I do consider that open-source software has much more benefits to offer than any other form of software. I believe its adoption by the majority of computer users is inevitable because of its benefits and not because of any marketing campaigns. Moreover, I strongly believe that open source software does not need salesmen. It has this rare combination of characteristics which makes it capable of effectively selling itself.
It was a poor decision by the FSF to launch such a campaign. The Foundation’s role is of major importance and such decisions do not defend or protect that role. They just make it weaker. My suggestion is that the FSF should concentrate more on improving the free software distribution methods and leave the anti-product campaigns to those who actually sell products.
Anyway, this is my personal opinion about a story I have just read in the news. If I change my mind about this, I promise to let you know by updating this post. Of course, my opinion about the importance of FSF has not changed at all. It still has much value as a foundation. I also know that many of the readers might have different opinions about this particular campaign. I absolutely respect your opinion, but I do not intend to waste any time arguing about this one, so do not expect me to reply to any comments. I will do so, only if I have some free time which I will not know how to spend :)
Note: Links to any MS or FSF campaign web pages have been intentionally omitted. I usually link to articles that worth linking to.
Related Articles
- Microsoft’s Open Source Software Lab
- Play Ogg
- Best Practices of Software Licensing
- Software that detects violations of open source licenses
- Application Testing: Zero Free Space
Tags: Opinion
December 18th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
I dissagree. I think your confusion is based on one of the major differences in the Open Source vs Free Software argument.
It is not just about better software or better development process, it is about freedom. People should be aware of what is wrong with Vista (DRM, Hardware costs etc) before they make the step.
MS has a 500 million dollar campaign to promote Vista. Free Software was BadVista. I found the webpage actually quite useful to refer people when I want to warn them about Vista, instead of giving them a dozen different links to articles.
This is a quite crucial point. If MS gets the amount of Vista sales it wants, it will be much more difficult to convince people to switch, especially after they’ve shelled 80-200 bucks to get a new shiny OS (not counting the HW costs). And Vista will be the ultimate lock-in.
As they say in the site: “But sometimes, the cooks get greedy. They crank up the temperature because they are late, their guests are waiting on them, and they need things to happen faster. At moments like this, we either jump out of the pot, or we cede a sizable portion of our livable space all at once. We are now facing such a moment with the release and possible adoption of Microsoft Vista, a moment where there could be a massive and sudden reduction in the freedom of computer users.”
December 19th, 2006 at 5:07 am
I am afraid I cannot agree with you Db0 :)
This campaign is what is usually called propaganda. As I don’t buy Microsoft’s propaganda, I will not do so for propaganda originating from the FSF either.
My main argument is that I do not consider that this campaign is FSF’s responsibility and that it, by doing so, weakens its role. This kind of campaign suits a company’s marketing department. AFAIK, the FSF is nobody’s marketing department.
You wrote:
So, the purists will enlighten the world… I totally disagree with these tactics. Freedom means that you are actually free to make choices according to your needs and your personal interests.
In an article of yours you have written:
My question is why does it have to happen now. IMHO, neither linux is absolutely ready for the desktop nor the vast majority of the computer users cares at the moment about what the FSF fights for. So, I guess the time for this change has not come yet.
December 19th, 2006 at 11:56 am
Propaganda means that you are deliberately misleading in order to gain some benefit. In what way is FSF misleading people with misinformation? What benefit would fsf have? Would you call Badvista.org FUD? As far as I see, what they say is true and they’re only informing people.
By what you say, FSF should not be interested in Software Patents either. It should not be interested in most stuff that it is. I do not agree.
Freedom can be assaulted in many ways. Vista is just another one.
How can you say freedom activists “Purists”. We are purists of what? I agree that you need to be free to make choices and FSF is not making anyone get GNU/Linux over Vista, nor does GNU/Linux lock you in, thus reducing your freedom of choice. You dissagree with a centralized point of information about an OS who’s marketing campaign is the bigest marketing campaign the largest corporation on the planet has ever done!
Although this comment is a bit out of context and would be better in the original article, I will answer.
It is because, as I’ve said before, tomorrow it may be too late. They are slowly but surely eroding your freedom. Ever heard the phrase: “The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance.”? This is what it’s all about.
They use FUD, Software Patents, Copyrights, IPs, Lock-in, Monopoly and everything else they can to stamp down opposition. Right now the opposition is Free Software, and you’re dissagreeing that the FSF is trying to tell the truth about the next big thing.
December 19th, 2006 at 12:43 pm
Ugh. Need. Preview. Button.
:)
December 19th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
This is a waste of time. Please, I do not wish to argue with you about this campaign. This is my last reply, sorry :(
[UPDATE: I have edited your comment so to fix the tags]
[UPDATE2: Duh, by providing the following quotes, I guess that I have to include the source, no matter how hard I have tried to avoid linking to it. They originate from the "Vista News Watch" section of badvista.fsf.org as of 2006-12-19T13:59:51+0200.]
Here are some of the quotes that are used to promote the badvista campaign:
or the (sorry for not including hyperlinks)
When someone tries to harm a product’s sales with quotes like the above, then you are right; this is not propaganda, it’s a joke. IMHO, the absolute highlight is the list of the 25 shortcomings of vista, before they are actually released to the consumers. A 10-year old child would have done better with that list!
I did not write anything about software patents. You try to guess here. What I wrote was strictly about the badvista campaign.
Not at all. I would agree with a campaign originating from an alliance of all the companies that actually sell open source operating systems. I have already written all this.
Maybe. OK. This is how you see things. I respect that. Please, respect my belief that it’s too early.
December 19th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
Indeed, a preview is needed. Don’t have a plugin handy for this. Will need to search…
December 19th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
… and a last thing I forgot to comment:
I did not call any freedom activist a “purist”. I called “purists” those who tell the world the “truth” about vista. There is a big difference between these two statements.
:)