Attacking Microsoft
Look out, Microsoft: The Free Software Foundation is on a crusade to cast out sin, and they’ve done everything but name Windows 7, “Beelzebub.”
Once upon a time, the FSF’s mission was to promote and support “free” software. The company emphasize the goodness of free software, including its own GNU tools and operating systems. It also helped developers of free software with its GNU General Public License.
In that far-away era, the FSF message was positive, focusing on why everyone should use and support free software.
That changed, beginning with the company’s lawsuits (in conjunction with the Software Freedom Law Center) against businesses that violated the terms of the GNU GPL.
And now the FSF has gone onto the offensive, as you can see with its latest campaign specifically targeting Windows 7 with a new website. The “Windows 7 Sins” site contains some pretty heavy stuff. There’s a graphic of a person throwing away the Windows logo, accompanied by the words, “Microsoft is trashing your freedom.”
Microsoft’s sins, as described by the FSF are enumerated: Education, DRM, security, standards, monopoly, lock-in, privacy.
Is there anything new about Windows 7 that has raised the FSF’s ire? As the organization says on the page,
The new version of Microsoft’s Windows operating system, Windows 7, has the same problem that Vista, XP, and all previous versions have had — it’s proprietary software. Users are not permitted to share or modify the Windows software, or examine how it works inside.
The fact that Windows 7 is proprietary means that Microsoft asserts legal control over its users through a combination of copyrights, contracts, and patents. Microsoft uses this power to abuse computer users.
The FSF adds that it doesn’t like how Microsoft is positioning Windows 7 for the fast-growing netbook market, compared to the heavyweight Windows Vista:
Windows 7, like Windows XP in 2001, has a more modest requirement footprint, making it ideal for low-powered netbook computers. However, unlike Windows XP, Microsoft have deliberately crippled Windows 7, leaving netbook users at the mercy of Microsoft to control which applications they can use, as well as the number of applications that can be run simultaneously.
But don’t think that this is purely a public service message from your friends at FSF. The real message is that you should – surprise – use Linux! As the site continues,
Free software operating systems like GNU/Linux can do the same jobs as Windows, but they encourage users to share, modify, and study the software as much as they want. This makes using a free software operating system the best way for users to escape Microsoft and avoid becoming victims of these seven sins.
Once upon a time, the FSF innovated. Then it litigated. Now it’s attacking Microsoft directly. Is that the best way to support the development of free software? I don’t think so. The way to promote Linux is to talk about its compelling features and benefits – in a positive way, and not merely as a righteous alternative to a “sinner.”
I agree that negative messages suck, especially this one. I also disliked Bad Vista, especially when the FSF portrayed it as some sort of victory (as if they were in any way responsible for less Vista sales).
But you brought up lawsuits, and I think it’s important to point out that the GPL is a legal document. If companies don’t want to comply with the license, then they shouldn’t use the code. If people didn’t go after GPL violators, there would be no reason for any amoral entity like a corporation to comply with it.
I would guess that the vast majority of coders who release their work under the GPL would support legal action being taken against violators. Otherwise, they would pick a non-copyleft license (of which there are many, my favorite being MIT/X11).
I guess my point is that lawsuits defending copyright holders are not indicative of an organization that has lost touch, whereas negative campaigns like Windows 7 Sins are.
Thanks for the post! 🙂
FSF start to looks like politicians on campaign… they attack each other’s mistakes instead of show what’s the good stuff each one have!