Ubuntu is not free.

[Christofer C. Bell]

On 7/13/06, rbalfour <ulist at gs1.ubuntuforums.org> wrote:
>
> >
> > free as in freedom
> >
>
> I believe that is "free as in freedom of choice"
>
> You have the choice to use it or not.

Yes, and that's a mistaken interpretation.  The GNU Project has a very
clear definition of what "Free" means when used in a "Free Software"
context[1].

This definition has nothing to do with the freedom to use or not use a
given piece of software, but the freedom to modify software as you
like and give your modifications to your neighbors (or to keep them to
yourself).  The first freedom, the freedom to modify, implies that you
are not free to restrict modifications by others to software you
distribute (thereby denying those people the freedom to modify their
software).

[1] http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

-- 
Chris

"I trust the Democrats to take away my money, which I can afford.  I
trust the Republicans to take away my freedom, which I cannot."