Why is Fedora not a Free GNU/Linux distributions?

[Les Mikesell]

Rui Miguel Silva Seabra wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 07:52:31AM -0500, Les Mikesell wrote:
>> Rui Miguel Silva Seabra wrote:
>>>>>> But you must give up your freedom and rights or you are unable to
>>>>>> participate in distributing these things as part of a work that
>>>>>> contains any GPL-covered material.
>>>>> The "or" denounces your syllogism.  The "must" is inappropriate when
>>>>> there's an alternative.
>>>> The alternative is not sharing any GPL-encumbered code at all.  Do 
>>>> you  consider that a reasonable alternative?
>>> People have been sharing and modifying software licensed with the GNU GPL
>>> for ages, isn't that alternative somewhat imaginary?
>> No, very few people I know other than myself even know GPL software  
>> exists.
> 
> I suggest your participate more into these communities, learn about the GNU
> GPL (and not about some imaginary license you keep bringing about), and then
> advocate it to the people who don't know.

I can't advocate it because I believe its terms are immoral.

>>> You seem to consider "sharing" proprietary software is sharing. I think
>>> that's wrong since to me it is not sharing but, instead, gaining control.
>> No, I think proprietary software is reasonable
> 
> I think this wrap ups very well all your argument. You start from a
> premise that I fundamentally reject as absurd, and from the absurd
> anything can be deduced.

Proprietary works are a side issue here as I am more concerned about the 
restrictions against combinations with MPL, CDDL, orginal BSD and other 
less resticted licenses, but do you think it is reasonable to require 
payment for your work in any field?  And if so, how is creating software 
different from other work?

>> but BSD, MIT, MPL, CDDL,  
>>  Apache, and similar less restricted licenses are about sharing.  GPL is 
>> about taking away other people's choices.
> 
> How can something that isn't there be taken away? The GNU GPL adds to
> people's choices. The default is no choice at all.

The GPL is no different than a proprietary license in that respect.

-- 
    Les Mikesell
     lesmikesell at gmail.com