[OSM-legal-talk] [OSM-talk] The OSM licence: where we are, where we're going

[Frederik Ramm]

Hi,

> My idea is not that people should be forbidden from choosing free or
> non-free products.

But you do think that, if a free product was used as the basis of a  
better, but non-free product, people would then prefer the non-free  
product because they don't understand the benefits of the free  
product, leading to the eventual demise of the free product. This is  
what you call "removing the freedom" of the whole, is it not?

"Removing the freedom" only happens if the original, free version  
ceases to exist, and this would only happen if people lose interest  
in it, right?

If people saw the value of the free product they would keep it alive  
and not switch to the non-free product even if the non-free product  
contained everything the free one has and more.

If people could be trusted to value the free alternative over the non- 
free, then PD would not be a threat.

But because you don't trust people and you fear that they will be  
blinded by the

> shiny branded utility in the marketplace

you'd prefer to keep the non-free product from using the free  
product's data.

> Copyleft ensures that this
> practical value is available for all, PD allows it to be restricted
> for others.

The end user is still free in his choice whether to use the PD or the  
restricted variant. You base your thinking on the assumption that the  
user will make the "wrong" choice, and thus you don't want to offer  
him the choice.

Bye
Frederik

-- 
Frederik Ramm  ##  eMail frederik at remote.org  ##  N49°00.09' E008°23.33'