Re: <nettime> A 'licensing fee' for GNU/Linux?

[Michael H Goldhaber <mgoldh@well.com>]

A stupid question: what is FOSS? FSF? OSI? this reminds me of the horrible
alphabet soup I used to encounter all the time when I worked in
Washington. While it may be very convenient for writers to use initials,
the practice very quickly renders conversation impenetrable to those who
haven't been paying enough attention to recall all the abbreviations. I
urge nettimers to take the time to spell out the meanings of abbreviations
frequently, if not at least once per posting.

Best,

Michael
-------
Michael H. Goldhaber

mgoldh@well.com
http://www.well.com/user/mgoldh/


On Aug 11, 2004, at 4:45 PM, Novica Nakov wrote:

>> In this sense, SW patents will not kill FOSS, but they will give large
>> companies much more leaway in determining its future, substantially
>> hollowing out the 'freedom' in free software.
>
> Or, in a highly unlikely scenario it can go the other way. If IBM 
> holds on to its pledge [1] not to use patents against linux, and if
> other companies follow extending their good will to all software that is
> compliant with the
> FSF and OSI definition than everyone will develop FOSS simply to stay 
> clear of patent trouble and we'll have all the freedom in the world.
>
>
> [1] http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-5296787.html
>
> And another link: http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-870390.html - 
> Stallman's
> thoughts on software patents, 2 years old.




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