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<center><h2>We speak about Free Software</h2></center>
<p>Free Software is often referred to as "Open Source." This is a
<p>Free Software is often referred to as "Open Source." This is a
result of an attempt by the <a href="http://www.opensource.org/">Open
Source Initiative</a> (OSI) to create a marketing campaign for Free
Software.</p>
<p>The OSI had the intention to maintain the integrity of the movement
and prevent abuse by proprietary vendors by introducing a trademark
for Free Software.</p>
<p>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 initative failed.</p>
<p>Looking at the development of the Open Source Initative for three
<p>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 that this
document seeks to explain.</p>
equivalent term in other languages offers many advantages, which we
explain below.</p>
<h3>"Free Software" is easier to understand</h3>
<p>In many languages, the ambiguity of the term "free" does not
exist. It may in others, including English, but that is easy to avoid
by pointing out that free refers to freedom, not price.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Although access to the source code is a precondition for two of the
freedoms, access to the source code alone is not enough. Free Software
avoids catering to this relatively common misunderstanding.</p>
<p>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. Many people do not understand that access to the
source code alone is not enough. "Free Software" avoids catering to
this relatively common misunderstanding.</p>
<h3>Free Software is harder to abuse</h3>
@@ -58,22 +63,24 @@ good as GNU/Linux" because it claims to follow the same principle.</p>
<p>We should not allow proprietary vendors to abuse peoples enthusiasm
like this. Since the "Open Source" trademarking initiative failed,
there is no way to prevent abuse of the term.</p>
there is no way to prevent abuse of the term that becomes possible
because of the aforementioned misunderstanding.</p>
<h3>Free Software is well-defined</h3>
<p>Experience in science and philosophy has shown that a good and concise
definition is to be preferred.</p>
<p>Experience in science and philosophy has shown that a good and
clear definition is to be preferred.</p>
<p>The Free Software Definition of the Free Software Foundation with its
four freedoms is the clearest definition existing today.</p>
<p>The Free Software Definition of the Free Software Foundation with
its four freedoms is the clearest definition existing today.</p>
<h3>Free Software provides additional value</h3>
<p>Unlike Open Source, Free Software provides more than just a
technical model how to develop better software, it provides a
philosophy. Companies can profit and learn from the philosophy and
philosophy. Companies can learn and profit from the philosophy and
background of Free Software.</p>
@@ -86,16 +93,15 @@ background of Free Software.</p>
<li>improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits.</li>
</ul></p>
<p>Because of these four freedoms, Free Software offers freedom to learn,
freedom to teach, freedom of competition, freedom of speech and
<p>Because of these four freedoms, Free Software offers freedom to
learn, freedom to teach, freedom of competition, freedom of speech and
freedom of choice.</p>
<p>Freedom counts!</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>We encourage you to make the same decision.</p>