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Williams, Sam

"Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade for Free Software"

If you think talking about software
freedom is a good strategy, please join in doing step
two. There are plenty working on step one. We need more
people working on step two."
Working on "step two" means driving home the issue that
freedom, not acceptance, is the root issue of the free
software movement. Those who hope to reform the
proprietary software industry from the inside are on a
fool's errand. "Change from the inside is risky,"
Stallman stays. "Unless you're working at the level of
a Gorbachev, you're going to be neutralized."
Hands pop up. Stallman points to a member of the golf
shirt-wearing contingent. "Without patents, how would
you suggest dealing with commercial espionage?"
"Well, those two questions have nothing to do with each
other, really," says Stallman.
"But I mean if someone wants to steal another company's
piece of software."
Stallman's recoils as if hit by a poisonous spray.
"Wait a second," Stallman says. "Steal? I'm sorry,
there's so much prejudice in that statement that the
only thing I can say is that I reject that prejudice.


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