Re: [GNU-linux-libre] Request for Endorsement for ConnochaetOS

[Henry Jensen]

Hi Quiliro,

On Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:11:51 -0500
Quiliro Ordóñez <address@hidden> wrote:

> Richard said he is discussing this issue with FSFE. FSF does not support 
> that position. In fact, FSF regards opensource software as something 
> good but the opensource ideas as bad. It sounds contradictory but it 
> isn't because some of what they do agrees with what we do but not all so 
> the terms are not interchangeable.

Maybe things are a little different in America, but here in Europe the
terms are indeed interchangeable. Here is no such thing like a distinct
"open source movement". I never met an "open source activist" who said
"I am pro open source, but against free software" or vice versa.
Meanwhile I read about the history of the term "open source",
foundation of the OSI and the "schism" between "open source" and "free
software". Indeed I think, that this was a local american issue. It had
no effect here, because at the time it happended there was
practically no free software community in existence over here.

Regardless of this I still prefer "free software" because the term
"open source" is abused in some cases and therefore not clear. But I
don't see "open source" as an distinct movement. Another local example:
In a few month there will be a local exhibition called "OpenRheinRuhr",
see http://openrheinruhr.de/. The preamble says:

"Die OpenRheinRuhr ist eine Messe mit Kongress rund um das Thema "Freie
Software"." Translation:
"OpenRheinRuhr is an exhibition with a congress on the topic "free
software"." The FSFE participates at that exhibition. (Side note: I
participate in the call for papers and want to speak about Linux Libre.)

> > a member who uses the
> > term "open source" can always refer to the FSFE and say "Hey, the FSFE
> > said, it is okay when I say "open source"". Since 90 percent of our
> > community is living in Europe that would be a reasonable point and one
> > could hardly argue against that.
> 
> Please get an official written statement from FSFE stating that. It 
> would clear up things for all of us.

I think I linked such a statement from Matthias Kirschner earlier. He is
Fellowship Coordinator and the Coordinator of the German team of the
FSFE, so in a sense he is the local authority for the FSFE in Germany
and as such authorized to make official statements.

Source:
http://mail.fsfeurope.org/pipermail/fsfe-de/2010-December/002883.html
Matthias Kirschner wrote in german (translation follows):

"Richard hat in letzter Zeit soweit ich gesehen habe nicht mehr von zwei
unterschiedlichen Gemeinschaften gesprochen. Die FSFE hat dies nicht
gemacht. Freie Software und Open Source sind Begriffe für ein und die
selbe Sache. Wir verwenden den Begriff Freie Software
http://www.fsfe.org/campaigns/whyfs/whyfs.de.html, aber wir sehen Leute
die andere Begriffe verwenden nicht außerhalb unserer Gemeinschaft.
[...]
Die FSFE empfiehlt, wie oben schon geschrieben, selbst zu denken.
Verwende entweder Freie Software oder Open Source, was du meinst, was
besser ist. Hatte ja ganz oben geschrieben, dass wir keine Strategien
vorschreiben wollen. Wenn jemand der Ansicht ist, dass es er mit dem
Begriff "Open Source" Freie Software besser erklären kann, dann soll er
das tun."

English Translation:

"Richard [Stallman], as I saw it, didn't speak about two different
communities in the last time. The FSFE didn't do it. Free Software and
Open Source are terms for the one and same thing. We use the term free
software, http://www.fsfe.org/campaigns/whyfs/whyfs.de.html, but we
don't see people who use other terms outside our community"
[...]
The FSFE recommends to think yourself. Use [the term] free software or
open source, whatever you think is better. [...] we don't dictate
strategies. If someone thinks that he can explain free software better
with the term open source then he should do it."

If I'm lucky I will have the opportunity to meet Karsten Gerloff,
President of the FSFE (the whole FSFE, not just Germany) at Wednesday
and ask him about this matter.

Regards,

Henry