Re: A possible GFDL compromise
Branden Robinson wrote:
>On Mon, Aug 25, 2003 at 11:21:09AM -0400, Richard Stallman wrote:
>> > Nowadays we have to struggle constantly against the tendency to bury
>> > the free software movement and pretend that we advocate "open
source".
>>
>> "Let those who fight monsters take care lest they themselves become
>> monsters." - Friedrich Nietzsche
>>
>> That danger always exists, but it can't be happening here in regard to
>> invariant sections, because they are not a change. We've been using
>> invariant sections in our manuals since at least 15 years ago.
>
>The FSF hasn't started promoting the usage of Invariant Sections by
>others until recently. The FSF clearly promulgates usage of the GNU FDL
>by third parties on its website.
>
>Furthermore, several GNU Manuals that used to be DFSG-free no longer
>are; take, for example, the GDB Manual.
>
>It's not just a continuation of the status quo that is taking place
>here. The FSF has adopted an expansionist policy with respect to
>Invariant Sections.
This is a very important point. I have stated before that I would not have
serious objections to the FSF issuing a small number of non-free manuals for
a good reason, as it has been doing for 15 years. (Nearly the entire GNU
Project website is 'verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article'
only, so there's further precedent for the GNU Project distributing non-free
material.)
In contrast, I have major objections to the FSF promoting the creation of
lots and lots of non-free manuals. And further objections to the FSF
claiming while doing so that they are free manuals. These policies *are* a
significant change.
--Nathanael Nerode
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