370 |
</tr></table> |
</tr></table> |
371 |
<h2 class="unnumberedsec"> Some Easily Rebutted Objections to GNU's Goals </h2> |
<h2 class="unnumberedsec"> Some Easily Rebutted Objections to GNU's Goals </h2> |
372 |
|
|
373 |
<blockquote><p>"Nobody will use it if it is free, because that means they can't rely |
<blockquote><p>“Nobody will use it if it is free, because that means they can't rely |
374 |
on any support." |
on any support.” |
375 |
</p> |
</p> |
376 |
<p>"You have to charge for the program to pay for providing the |
<p>“You have to charge for the program to pay for providing the |
377 |
support." |
support.” |
378 |
</p></blockquote> |
</p></blockquote> |
379 |
|
|
380 |
<p>If people would rather pay for GNU plus service than get GNU free without |
<p>If people would rather pay for GNU plus service than get GNU free without |
407 |
of us who don't need the service should be able to use the program without |
of us who don't need the service should be able to use the program without |
408 |
paying for the service. |
paying for the service. |
409 |
</p> |
</p> |
410 |
<blockquote><p>"You cannot reach many people without advertising, |
<blockquote><p>“You cannot reach many people without advertising, |
411 |
and you must charge for the program to support that." |
and you must charge for the program to support that.” |
412 |
</p> |
</p> |
413 |
<p>"It's no use advertising a program people can get free." |
<p>“It's no use advertising a program people can get free.” |
414 |
</p></blockquote> |
</p></blockquote> |
415 |
|
|
416 |
<p>There are various forms of free or very cheap publicity that can be used to |
<p>There are various forms of free or very cheap publicity that can be used to |
426 |
necessary to spread GNU. Why is it that free market advocates don't want |
necessary to spread GNU. Why is it that free market advocates don't want |
427 |
to let the free market decide this? |
to let the free market decide this? |
428 |
|
|
429 |
</p><blockquote><p>"My company needs a proprietary operating system |
</p><blockquote><p>“My company needs a proprietary operating system |
430 |
to get a competitive edge." |
to get a competitive edge.” |
431 |
</p></blockquote> |
</p></blockquote> |
432 |
|
|
433 |
<p>GNU will remove operating system software from the realm of competition. |
<p>GNU will remove operating system software from the realm of competition. |
441 |
<p>I would like to see GNU development supported by gifts from many |
<p>I would like to see GNU development supported by gifts from many |
442 |
manufacturers and users, reducing the cost to each. |
manufacturers and users, reducing the cost to each. |
443 |
</p> |
</p> |
444 |
<blockquote><p>"Don't programmers deserve a reward for their creativity?" |
<blockquote><p>“Don't programmers deserve a reward for their creativity?” |
445 |
</p></blockquote> |
</p></blockquote> |
446 |
|
|
447 |
<p>If anything deserves a reward, it is social contribution. Creativity can |
<p>If anything deserves a reward, it is social contribution. Creativity can |
450 |
programs, by the same token they deserve to be punished if they restrict |
programs, by the same token they deserve to be punished if they restrict |
451 |
the use of these programs. |
the use of these programs. |
452 |
</p> |
</p> |
453 |
<blockquote><p>"Shouldn't a programmer be able to ask for a reward for his creativity?" |
<blockquote><p>“Shouldn't a programmer be able to ask for a reward for his creativity?” |
454 |
</p></blockquote> |
</p></blockquote> |
455 |
|
|
456 |
<p>There is nothing wrong with wanting pay for work, or seeking to maximize |
<p>There is nothing wrong with wanting pay for work, or seeking to maximize |
472 |
Specifically, the desire to be rewarded for one's creativity does not |
Specifically, the desire to be rewarded for one's creativity does not |
473 |
justify depriving the world in general of all or part of that creativity. |
justify depriving the world in general of all or part of that creativity. |
474 |
</p> |
</p> |
475 |
<blockquote><p>"Won't programmers starve?" |
<blockquote><p>“Won't programmers starve?” |
476 |
</p></blockquote> |
</p></blockquote> |
477 |
|
|
478 |
<p>I could answer that nobody is forced to be a programmer. Most of us cannot |
<p>I could answer that nobody is forced to be a programmer. Most of us cannot |
500 |
programmers made the same, that would not be an injustice either. (In |
programmers made the same, that would not be an injustice either. (In |
501 |
practice they would still make considerably more than that.) |
practice they would still make considerably more than that.) |
502 |
</p> |
</p> |
503 |
<blockquote><p>"Don't people have a right to control how their creativity is used?" |
<blockquote><p>“Don't people have a right to control how their creativity is used?” |
504 |
</p></blockquote> |
</p></blockquote> |
505 |
|
|
506 |
<p>"Control over the use of one's ideas" really constitutes control over |
<p>“Control over the use of one's ideas” really constitutes control over |
507 |
other people's lives; and it is usually used to make their lives more |
other people's lives; and it is usually used to make their lives more |
508 |
difficult. |
difficult. |
509 |
</p> |
</p> |
527 |
practice was useful, and is the only way many authors' works have survived |
practice was useful, and is the only way many authors' works have survived |
528 |
even in part. The copyright system was created expressly for the purpose |
even in part. The copyright system was created expressly for the purpose |
529 |
of encouraging authorship. In the domain for which it was |
of encouraging authorship. In the domain for which it was |
530 |
invented--books, which could be copied economically only on a printing |
invented—books, which could be copied economically only on a printing |
531 |
press--it did little harm, and did not obstruct most of the individuals |
press—it did little harm, and did not obstruct most of the individuals |
532 |
who read the books. |
who read the books. |
533 |
</p> |
</p> |
534 |
<p>All intellectual property rights are just licenses granted by society |
<p>All intellectual property rights are just licenses granted by society |
546 |
spiritually; in which a person should not do so regardless of whether the |
spiritually; in which a person should not do so regardless of whether the |
547 |
law enables him to. |
law enables him to. |
548 |
</p> |
</p> |
549 |
<blockquote><p>"Competition makes things get done better." |
<blockquote><p>“Competition makes things get done better.” |
550 |
</p></blockquote> |
</p></blockquote> |
551 |
|
|
552 |
<p>The paradigm of competition is a race: by rewarding the winner, we |
<p>The paradigm of competition is a race: by rewarding the winner, we |
553 |
encourage everyone to run faster. When capitalism really works this way, |
encourage everyone to run faster. When capitalism really works this way, |
554 |
it does a good job; but its defenders are wrong in assuming it always works |
it does a good job; but its defenders are wrong in assuming it always works |
555 |
this way. If the runners forget why the reward is offered and become |
this way. If the runners forget why the reward is offered and become |
556 |
intent on winning, no matter how, they may find other strategies--such as, |
intent on winning, no matter how, they may find other strategies—such as, |
557 |
attacking other runners. If the runners get into a fist fight, they will |
attacking other runners. If the runners get into a fist fight, they will |
558 |
all finish late. |
all finish late. |
559 |
</p> |
</p> |
560 |
<p>Proprietary and secret software is the moral equivalent of runners in a |
<p>Proprietary and secret software is the moral equivalent of runners in a |
561 |
fist fight. Sad to say, the only referee we've got does not seem to |
fist fight. Sad to say, the only referee we've got does not seem to |
562 |
object to fights; he just regulates them ("For every ten yards you run, |
object to fights; he just regulates them (“For every ten yards you run, |
563 |
you can fire one shot"). He really ought to break them up, and penalize |
you can fire one shot”). He really ought to break them up, and penalize |
564 |
runners for even trying to fight. |
runners for even trying to fight. |
565 |
</p> |
</p> |
566 |
<blockquote><p>"Won't everyone stop programming without a monetary incentive?" |
<blockquote><p>“Won't everyone stop programming without a monetary incentive?” |
567 |
</p></blockquote> |
</p></blockquote> |
568 |
|
|
569 |
<p>Actually, many people will program with absolutely no monetary incentive. |
<p>Actually, many people will program with absolutely no monetary incentive. |
590 |
competition with high-paying ones, but they do not have to do badly if the |
competition with high-paying ones, but they do not have to do badly if the |
591 |
high-paying ones are banned. |
high-paying ones are banned. |
592 |
</p> |
</p> |
593 |
<blockquote><p>"We need the programmers desperately. If they demand that we |
<blockquote><p>“We need the programmers desperately. If they demand that we |
594 |
stop helping our neighbors, we have to obey." |
stop helping our neighbors, we have to obey.” |
595 |
</p></blockquote> |
</p></blockquote> |
596 |
|
|
597 |
<p>You're never so desperate that you have to obey this sort of demand. |
<p>You're never so desperate that you have to obey this sort of demand. |
598 |
Remember: millions for defense, but not a cent for tribute! |
Remember: millions for defense, but not a cent for tribute! |
599 |
</p> |
</p> |
600 |
<blockquote><p>"Programmers need to make a living somehow." |
<blockquote><p>“Programmers need to make a living somehow.” |
601 |
</p></blockquote> |
</p></blockquote> |
602 |
|
|
603 |
<p>In the short run, this is true. However, there are plenty of ways that |
<p>In the short run, this is true. However, there are plenty of ways that |
628 |
</p> |
</p> |
629 |
<p>But if the computer buyer makes a donation to software development |
<p>But if the computer buyer makes a donation to software development |
630 |
himself, he can take a credit against the tax. He can donate to |
himself, he can take a credit against the tax. He can donate to |
631 |
the project of his own choosing--often, chosen because he hopes to |
the project of his own choosing—often, chosen because he hopes to |
632 |
use the results when |
use the results when |
633 |
|
|
634 |
it is done. He can take a credit for any amount |
it is done. He can take a credit for any amount |