RE: [GRASS5] grass && open source

bruce_byars · September 5, 2002, 3:17pm

Web pages can be easily updated.

Bruce

-----Original Message-----
From: Russell Nelson [mailto:nelson@crynwr.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 10:08 AM
To: grass5
Subject: [GRASS5] grass && open source

Grass uses the GPL. The GPL is an OSI-approved license. That means
that the Grass webpage can use the OSI certification mark. To whom do
I lobby for this action?

http://opensource.org/docs/certification_mark.html

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Bernhard_Reiter · September 6, 2002, 10:32am

Yes, I've updated the press release to reflect the Free Software
status of GRASS better as it was originally.
The OSI trademark is pretty new and time will tell if the abuse
of the term "Open Source" can be successfuly stopped this way.
As long as this has not been shown I prefer the term "Free Software"
which has been in successful use for over ten years.

I've moved thanks further down and also added thanks for the
development hosting to Intevation.

On Thu, Sep 05, 2002 at 10:17:40AM -0500, Byars, Bruce W. wrote:

Web pages can be easily updated.

-----Original Message-----
From: Russell Nelson [mailto:nelson@crynwr.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 10:08 AM
To: grass5
Subject: [GRASS5] grass && open source

Grass uses the GPL. The GPL is an OSI-approved license. That means
that the Grass webpage can use the OSI certification mark. To whom do
I lobby for this action?

http://opensource.org/docs/certification_mark.html

Russell_Nelson · September 6, 2002, 2:13pm

Bernhard Reiter writes:
> Yes, I've updated the press release to reflect the Free Software
> status of GRASS better as it was originally.
> The OSI trademark is pretty new and time will tell if the abuse
> of the term "Open Source" can be successfuly stopped this way.
> As long as this has not been shown I prefer the term "Free Software"
> which has been in successful use for over ten years.

Microsoft loves it when you use an ambiguous term like free software.
You see, Microsoft also distributes free software, like Internet
Explorer. That's why we have a certification trademark. Microsoft
*can't* abuse it -- not without opening themselves up for a nasty (and
profitable for our lawyer) lawsuit.

NOT using the OSI Certified(tm) trademark is giving in to the forces
that want to own everything. Yes, I understand that it is new, and
unproven. "Free software" is *proven* to be subject to abuse. The
FSF has no certification mark, and no (apparent) plans for one. As a
consequence, free software will mean whatever the user wants it to
mean. And that's a bad situation and needs correction. I contributed
to correcting it, and now you're taken that way. Thanks, buddy -- let
me know next time you want a favor and I'll be sure to do something
else.

By the way, it's "OSI Certified(tm)", not "OSI Certified". Sorry, my
bad.

Bernhard_Reiter · September 6, 2002, 2:52pm

On Fri, Sep 06, 2002 at 10:13:08AM -0400, Russell Nelson wrote:

Bernhard Reiter writes:
> Yes, I've updated the press release to reflect the Free Software
> status of GRASS better as it was originally.
> The OSI trademark is pretty new and time will tell if the abuse
> of the term "Open Source" can be successfuly stopped this way.
> As long as this has not been shown I prefer the term "Free Software"
> which has been in successful use for over ten years.

Microsoft loves it when you use an ambiguous term like free software.

That is your view. In my view Microsoft profited a lot from
the failed marketing term open source in the past.
This is not the right list to debate this, as the arguments are known.

NOT using the OSI Certified(tm) trademark is giving in to the forces
that want to own everything.

This is not the full story. There are other protection mechanisms,
like educating people about how to preserve their freedom regarding
software and give them the capability to decide for themselfs.
Nonetheless we probably will consider additionally
using the "OSI Certified" trademark.