[Open-graphics] Discussions with Richard Stallman

[Hamie]

On Tuesday 09 January 2007 11:14, Lourens Veen wrote:
> On Tuesday 09 January 2007 03:46, Patrick McNamara wrote:
> > > Oh, and should Patrick McNamara and the OHF follow suit?  Asking
> > > him to change OHF to something else is about like asking Traversal
> > > to change its name.  Some things are much harder to do, so this is
> > > entirely up to him and his board members.  But I just thought I'd
> > > mention the idea.
> >
> > That would be somewhat difficult right now as it would require filing
> > and amendment to the articles of incorporation which are currently
> > working their way through the cog that is the state goverment of
> > Texas.
> >
> > I certainly understand RMS' postion on "free" vs "open" and generally
> > agree with him, though I differ on some points.  I am a bit more
> > pragmatic with an undertone of idealism.  Still, I have concerns
> > about using the word "free" in the title of a hardware project or the
> > Foundation.  While it does pose less of an issue than "open" in terms
> > of confusing meanings, the big confusion it does have, between free
> > beer and free speech, causes significant issue with hardware.  In the
> > general sense we will never be producing free as in beer hardware.
> > This means that any packaging or press materials that reference "free
> > hardware" will cause serious problems in the general problem.  In the
> > lawsuit happy US, I can certain see someone saying "It said there was
> > free hardware in the box.  I didn't get anything free.  I'll sue for
> > false advertising!"  So yes that may be an exageration, but only a
> > little.
>
> That's an excellent point. Perhaps we should refer to "Free Design"
> hardware? That would make more sense in other ways as well, in that you
> normally have the right to change a physical object that is in your
> possession anyway, and that in practice this is mainly about the

Ahh.... Not in the US I don't think you do. The DMCA put paid to that. Nor in 
any of the other countries where PS/2, XBox etc modders have been shutdown. 
All the manufacturer needs to do is claim you're circumventing copy 
protection (Which is pretty much undefined, a simple XOR on some data will be 
accepted as 'encryption' I believe) and away for a holiday without sun you 
go.

H