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revision 1.21 by pertusus, Tue Aug 9 17:19:27 2005 UTC revision 1.22 by pertusus, Tue Aug 23 23:51:18 2005 UTC
# Line 370  breathing, and as productive.  It ought Line 370  breathing, and as productive.  It ought
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>&quot;Nobody will use it if it is free, because that means they can't rely  <blockquote><p>&ldquo;Nobody will use it if it is free, because that means they can't rely
374  on any support.&quot;  on any support.&rdquo;
375  </p>  </p>
376  <p>&quot;You have to charge for the program to pay for providing the  <p>&ldquo;You have to charge for the program to pay for providing the
377  support.&quot;  support.&rdquo;
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
# Line 407  and price; users will not be tied to any Line 407  and price; users will not be tied to any
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>&quot;You cannot reach many people without advertising,  <blockquote><p>&ldquo;You cannot reach many people without advertising,
411  and you must charge for the program to support that.&quot;  and you must charge for the program to support that.&rdquo;
412  </p>  </p>
413  <p>&quot;It's no use advertising a program people can get free.&quot;  <p>&ldquo;It's no use advertising a program people can get free.&rdquo;
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
# Line 426  companies don't succeed, this will show Line 426  companies don't succeed, this will show
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>&quot;My company needs a proprietary operating system  </p><blockquote><p>&ldquo;My company needs a proprietary operating system
430  to get a competitive edge.&quot;  to get a competitive edge.&rdquo;
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.
# Line 441  pushed into the expensive business of se Line 441  pushed into the expensive business of se
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>&quot;Don't programmers deserve a reward for their creativity?&quot;  <blockquote><p>&ldquo;Don't programmers deserve a reward for their creativity?&rdquo;
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
# Line 450  results.  If programmers deserve to be r Line 450  results.  If programmers deserve to be r
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>&quot;Shouldn't a programmer be able to ask for a reward for his creativity?&quot;  <blockquote><p>&ldquo;Shouldn't a programmer be able to ask for a reward for his creativity?&rdquo;
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
# Line 472  information, I am required to consider i Line 472  information, I am required to consider i
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>&quot;Won't programmers starve?&quot;  <blockquote><p>&ldquo;Won't programmers starve?&rdquo;
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
# Line 500  an injustice that sales clerks make the Line 500  an injustice that sales clerks make the
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>&quot;Don't people have a right to control how their creativity is used?&quot;  <blockquote><p>&ldquo;Don't people have a right to control how their creativity is used?&rdquo;
504  </p></blockquote>  </p></blockquote>
505    
506  <p>&quot;Control over the use of one's ideas&quot; really constitutes control over  <p>&ldquo;Control over the use of one's ideas&rdquo; 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>
# Line 527  frequently copied other authors at lengt Line 527  frequently copied other authors at lengt
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&mdash;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&mdash;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
# Line 546  enforces a copyright is harming society Line 546  enforces a copyright is harming 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>&quot;Competition makes things get done better.&quot;  <blockquote><p>&ldquo;Competition makes things get done better.&rdquo;
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&mdash;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 (&quot;For every ten yards you run,  object to fights; he just regulates them (&ldquo;For every ten yards you run,
563  you can fire one shot&quot;).  He really ought to break them up, and penalize  you can fire one shot&rdquo;).  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>&quot;Won't everyone stop programming without a monetary incentive?&quot;  <blockquote><p>&ldquo;Won't everyone stop programming without a monetary incentive?&rdquo;
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.
# Line 590  come to expect and demand it.  Low-payin Line 590  come to expect and demand it.  Low-payin
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>&quot;We need the programmers desperately.  If they demand that we  <blockquote><p>&ldquo;We need the programmers desperately.  If they demand that we
594  stop helping our neighbors, we have to obey.&quot;  stop helping our neighbors, we have to obey.&rdquo;
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>&quot;Programmers need to make a living somehow.&quot;  <blockquote><p>&ldquo;Programmers need to make a living somehow.&rdquo;
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
# Line 628  an agency like the NSF to spend on softw Line 628  an agency like the NSF to spend on softw
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&mdash;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

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