[ubuntu-za] Is Ubuntu Appcentre end of the road for FOSS?

[David Robert Lewis]

Lee Sharp wrote:
> David Robert Lewis wrote:
>
>   
>> Ludolph you are entitled to your opinion. I picked up on the story on 
>> softpedia and fudzilla and then followed up the original which appears 
>> to be stefanoforenza. I believe my conclusions are valid and the issues 
>> I rise are a topic for serious debate. I wanted to share my posting and 
>> blog with the mailing list, and believe I am within my rights to do so. 
>> If there were no "tinfoil hat loonies" as you put it, there would be no 
>> crazy Linux users. This is why they call it Mad Tux. So I am honoured to 
>> be called such names and feel entitled to express my opinions.
>>     
>
>
> It is, however, another "The Sky is falling" story with little 
> substance.  For example, it is "Linux for Human Beings" which often 
> includes commercial software.  I want that freedom too...  Making 
> commercial software easier to integrate is only a good thing.  Nowhere 
> in the Ubuntu credo does it say "pure stuff only."  And, no one will 
> propose hiding the FOSS stuff.  That is the FUD that makes us roll our 
> eyes every time this kind of thing comes up.
>
> And that is my opinion...
>
> 			Lee
>
>   
Let's not get confused with the journalistic hook, which sure, is a bit 
like chicken little complaining about FUD and should we be concerned or 
not? I do think there is a place for commercial software and all I am 
expressing is a bit of concern, felt within the community, that it may 
become harder to exist without commercial software than it is at 
present. This is all down the line, and I support Canonical decision to 
release Parallels via the official third-party channels. What I don't 
support is any move that will make it harder to apt-get from Universe or 
Multiverse. I like being able to input my own software sources from 
ppa's and to not have some company dictate what I do.

I like sharing with my neighbours. What I don't like is anybody telling 
me that I can't share software with my friends, or the Apple mentality 
which is to lock one into a development path where it becomes impossible 
to share.

Surely there is a case to be made that this is all about freedom of 
choice. If you want to support commercial ventures by all means, but 
what exactly are you supporting? When I pay for an item, surely I get 
ownership and control over it, to modify and redistribute as I wish? In 
the software world, we all know this has been different which is why I 
support Richard Stallman and the FSF

I really don't want to end up paying for "free services" and what is the 
real price of proprietary software? Law enforcement will have to turn 
some of us into criminals, merely because intellectual curiousity or the 
belief in freedom.

I only wish there was a better way to debate this without having to get 
paranoid. I have already suggested the ransom model as a better means of 
resolving the problem, than the cold heart of intellectual property law 
which now wants to stifle academic freedom see 
http://www.africancommons.org/2009/04/join-us-to-stop-the-regulations/

Enough said, feel free to read my piece, leave comments if you want and 
join in the discussion at Indlovu.

Regards

DRL.