AcrobatReader: A bug or intentionally?

[Matthew Flaschen]

Art Alexion wrote:
> Adobe wants two things:  To give away as many readers as possible to add value 
> to the PDF format and, hence make money selling PDF creation and editing 
> software.  To keep its code proprietary.

Given that they make money off proprietary creation software (despite
broad competition), I don't understand (purely from a financial point of
view) why they keep the reader proprietary; making it free software
would make increase distribution.

> Heresy alert: I don't care what Richard M. Stallman says, there is a 
> difference between free software and open source software.

I guess you mean "at no charge" when you say free.  It would help if you
said gratis instead, to avoid confusion.  I mean freedom when I say free
software and sometimes say libre to clarify.  Stallman agrees with your
statement, but for a totally different reason
(http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html).

> People can give 
> away proprietary software (like Adobe does) and sell open source software 
> (Like Red Hat and Suse do) 

Certainly.  Almost all the software Red Hat sells is /both/ free and
open source software.

Matthew Flaschen