Re: [GNU-linux-libre] Hyperbola: Other "Information for practical use" under a free license

[Adonay Felipe Nogueira]

2018-05-16T11:29:25-0300 Adonay Felipe Nogueira wrote:
> However --- taking the same hook I used in a 20min talk I gave about
> free/libre software movement in May 12th on a city nearby --- functional
> data has some features that distinguish it from other digital goods:
>
> a) sequence of orders executed blindly by the computer (applies only to
>    scripted elements);
>
> b) written by someone else (also applies to non-functional data, but
>    read on);
>
> c) one can use it without the corresponding source (id.);
>
> d) for practical use (in the sense that given data can by itself
>    misbehave);
>
> e) modifies local culture (the absense of the data might impact how
>    people perceive my work because they are already expecting me to use
>    and depend on that data). This is particularly seen with text fonts
>    and color profiles.
>
> These characteristics *aggravate* the need for these goods to be
> free/libre first, in contrast to non-functional ones.
>
> In my presentation, after talking about (e), I also reminded people
> about (b) again, precisely because --- taking the example of software
> ---, while in the case of cement you (or someone hired by you) can
> easily break, redo, append to and provide services based on it, software
> isn't that way, once you lose the source files and the rights to do such
> things, you lose control of your own material environment, your
> capability.

Addendum: I can also think of a [initially non-functional] work that has
the same characteristics as the above: scientific research (and the
publications that resulted from that).