[FYI] We speak about Free Software

["Axel H Horns" <horns@ipjur.com>]

http://fsfeurope.org/documents/whyfs.en.html

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We speak about Free Software  

Free Software is often referred to as "Open Source." This is a result 
of an attempt by the Open Source Initiative (OSI) to create a 
marketing campaign for Free Software.  

The OSI set out to maintain the integrity of the movement and prevent 
abuse by proprietary vendors by introducing "Open Source" as a 
trademark for Free Software; but this initiative failed.  

Examining the development of the Open Source Initative after three 
years, it becomes apparent that the reasons to prefer the term Free 
Software have become even more true. Speaking of Free Software or the 
equivalent term in other languages offers many advantages, which we 
explain below.  

"Free Software" is easier to understand  

Although some people say that using the term "free" creates 
ambiguity, many languages have separate terms referring to freedom 
and price. In these languages, the term "free" is not ambiguous. It 
may be in others, including English, but in those misunderstandings 
can easily be avoided by pointing out that free refers to freedom, 
not price.  

The terminology "Open Source" refers to having access to the source 
code. But access to the source code is only a precondition for two of 
the four freedoms that define Free Software. Many people do not 
understand that access to the source code alone is not enough. "Free 
Software" avoids catering to this relatively common misunderstanding. 
 

Free Software is harder to abuse  

Unfortunately many companies have started calling their products 
"Open Source" if at least some parts of the source code can be seen. 
Users buy this software believing they are purchasing something "as 
good as GNU/Linux" because it claims to follow the same principle.  

We should not allow proprietary vendors to abuse people's enthusiasm 
like this. Since the "Open Source" trademarking initiative failed, 
there is no way to prevent abuse of the term that becomes possible 
because of the aforementioned misunderstanding.  

Free Software is well-defined  

Experience in science and philosophy has shown that a good and clear 
definition is to be preferred.  

The Free Software Definition of the Free Software Foundation with its 
four freedoms is the clearest definition existing today.  

Free Software provides additional value  

Unlike Open Source, Free Software provides more than just a technical 
model how to develop better software, it provides a philosophy. 
Companies can learn and profit from the philosophy and background of 
Free Software.  

Free Software offers freedom  

Free Software provides the freedoms to  

run the program, for any purpose. study how the program works, and 
adapt it to your needs. redistribute copies. improve the program, and 
release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community 
benefits.  

Because of these four freedoms, Free Software offers freedom to 
learn, freedom to teach, freedom of competition, freedom of speech 
and freedom of choice.  

Freedom counts!  

For all these reasons we made the conscious decision to avoid the 
term Open Source and speak of Free Software or the equivalent term in 
other languages.  

We encourage you to make the same decision.  

An initative of the Free Software Foundation Europe  

[...]

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