Bulletin Issue 25

Issue 25 Bulletin November 2014 Contents Free software needs your vote Free software needs your 1 by John Sullivan vote Executive Director What would a free 3 t the Free Software Foundation, software world look like? Awe want to empower all computer GNU Guix and GNU’s 4 users everywhere to do everything they 31st Birthday might need or want to do on any com- Appropriate legal 5 puter, using only free software, with- notices out having to ask permission. Free tools for the FSF 6 By definition, proprietary software Common misconceptions 7 does not empower users in this way. in licensing It places limits on what they can do, Volunteer opportunities 9 such as preventing sharing of the soft- at the FSF ware, or looking at its code to see how See you at LibrePlanet 10 it works. 2015! Proprietary software enables users Around the world in (a 11 to pursue everything they might need hundred and) eighty or want to do, only as long as the soft- days ware distributor approves. The four freedoms that define free software — to run the program (0), to study and modify it (1), to share it (2), and to share modifications (3) — are meant for everyone, in their inter- actions with any program. Free software is a means to protect the individual freedom of computer users. But why would someone who has Register for LibrePlanet at u.fsf.org/14w. no intention of ever reading the source code of programs running on their computer, much less in modifying it, care about Freedom 1, or Freedom 3? Why do they need or want the freedom to do things they might never need or want to do? 1 One reason is that any computer general, the right to vote can be a pow- user can ask someone else to do those erful check on government behavior. things for them. Like the freedom The four freedoms for software can to take your car to any mechanic, or work in a similar way. We don’t need to evaluate multiple contractors for an everyone actively modifying software improvement on your home and then to deter bad behavior by software com- go with the one you like the best, in a panies. free software world, people can request But we do need everyone to have or commission changes to the way their the right to modify software; we need software works. everyone to have that potential. The In the proprietary world, this hap- fact that any given person around the pens only in a very limited and con- world could step up and make a mod- tingent way. You can’t pay Micro- ification to a program to make it act soft or anyone else to make changes differently — such as removing a back to Windows, or anyone — not even door installed by some company — is Apple — to change something in the a powerful check against unethical con- iPhone’s operating system. In the free trol of individuals through software. world, anyone can make modifications It can’t be entirely mere poten- to any program, and can even be paid tial. If nobody ever votes, the right for their time spent doing so. to vote loses its impact. This is a good This is an example of a tangible reason to request the source code for way in which everyone benefits from any device you purchase that has GNU the four freedoms, whether they work GPL-covered software on it, whether on software themselves or not — but it you have plans to do something with is not the only benefit. it or not. But regardless, the num- The mere existence of the option ber of software developers, hobbyists, for people to inspect, modify, and and tinkerers, who can effectively mod- share the software they use has an im- ify and redistribute software, is much portant effect which, if it became the more than zero. norm, would cause a dramatic change We do still need to encourage peo- in the behavior of software companies, ple to learn more about how their com- and the character of software. puters work, enough to be able to make To understand why, think about basic changes for themselves, but we the right to vote. Everyone does not also need to explain that these free- have to vote in every election in order doms are important for anyone regard- for voting rights to have an impact on less of whether they intend to ever the behavior of elected officials. Politi- write a line of code in their lives. We cians know that there is the potential need to encourage people to use only for all eligible people to vote one way software that respects everyone’s free- or the other, and they have to act ac- doms. cordingly. To succeed at this, we need to make Of course, many countries (such as it easier for people to identify free soft- the United States) have voting systems ware, and to care about it. Identifying that are less than ideal, with various whether something is free software or obstacles and distortions dulling the not can be a complex process. Sev- importance of individual votes. But in eral aspects need to be looked at by a 2 knowledgeable person — the copyright What would a free soft- license, any End User Licensing Agree- ment, related trademark licenses, and ware world look like? by Zak Rogoff possibly relevant patent claims. Campaigns Manager That’s a lot to ask of someone who ree software activism is a struggle is just trying to buy a computer or de- Fwith short and long term goals. We vice that comes with some software, or try to stay focused on moving forward is considering downloading a program the world around us and not getting they found online. hung up on perfectionism or fantasies. We know we need to make this eas- But from time to time it’s good to ier, and we are working on a number pause and envision the goal state we’re of efforts in this area. One of the most working towards. Different free soft- important is our Respects Your Free- ware activists have different goals — dom hardware certification program.1 at the FSF we advocate for an end to Another is a simple label that can be proprietary software and a 100% free put on programs to indicate that they software world, so that’s what I’ll write have been verified as free (such as be- about here. ing listed in our Free Software Direc- Inherently, there are a lot of as- tory).2 sumptions I’m making for this thought As one milestone along our path experiment, and there’s no way for to the elimination of proprietary soft- the predictions to be actually accu- ware, we can aim to have free software rate. With that said, let’s step through achieve what the organic food and tex- the door of imagination into a different tiles movement has achieved. What- world . a world of all free software. ever you think about the importance One of the first things we notice is or irrelevance of organic products, they that people think about software dif- are now available and clearly marked in ferently. Thinking of it less as a black- many stores around the world, as well box product to buy, people understand as in online shops. Imagine if it were that it is a living, evolving tool that re- just as easy to identify and support free flects the efforts of the people that de- software. velop and use it. Though not everyone Please do exercise your freedom to is a programmer, many more people read and modify software. But even have at least basic programming skills if you don’t, insist on having the op- and an understanding of how comput- tion. By doing so, you help create a ers work. world where software is a tool for true People are legally able to explore empowerment instead of control. and customize any program that they 1fsf.org/ryf have the hardware to run, so they are 2 directory.fsf.org familiar with a more diverse array of software. Compatibility between programs and protocols is less of an issue, because they are all designed to work with as many other systems as possi- ble, and programmers can add compatibility that the original authors over- 3 looked. People are more often able to goal are most important to us. I’d love use the best software solution available to hear your thoughts on these ideas. for the problem at hand. Because so Email me at [email protected] if you want many people in so many different cir- to share them. I can’t guarantee that cumstances have created custom soft- I’ll respond to every message, but I’ll ware solutions for their needs, there read them. are programs available to help a wider range of people in different cultures and economies. Powerful organizations also use software differently. Independent re- view of the software that runs important systems in government and cor- porations is commonplace, and these organizations see it as a great em- barrassment for vulnerabilities to be found in the code, so they hire hack- ers to fix them in the open. Censor- ship and surveillance is considerably harder, though not impossible. Tools Learn how to encrypt your email in over for circumventing them are widespread eleven languages! Visit u.fsf.org/esd. and under constant development to stay one step ahead.

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