"In a world in that everyone relies more and more on technique and technical solutions, every single person's digital freedom is an inevitable precondition for the freedom of our society in a whole. 30 years ago, Richard Stallman “invented” software freedom by writing a license (GPL) that gives users the freedom to use, study, share and improve this software. Back then, he named it Free Software – not referring to “free beer” but to freedom. 15 years later, some enterprises adopted his idea but renamed it to ""Open Source"" – not referring to to freedom but to highlight the technical difference to closed source software. Nowadays, this term is quite popular. However, “Open Source” only emphasises the technical advantages. “Free Software”, instead, implies a message and is here to bring change into our society and its organisation, including ethical, social and political implications This talk will be about software and users freedom along the lines: What is Free Software? What are the four Freedoms? How can Free Software help us to achieve a Free Society? What is the difference between Open Source and Free Software and what do they have in common? "

1. Why we talk about Free Software
Erik Albers
Free Software Foundation Europe
Mail: eal@fsfe.org
Twitter: @3albers
Blog: https://blogs.fsfe.org/eal

2. Why we talk about Free Software
● In the beginning all software was free
● Scientific area
● Hardware was the product
● Software becoming market product in the 70's
by using closed source

3. Why we talk about Free Software
1980: Richard Stallman (MIT), the AI Lab and the printer

4. Why we talk about Free Software
1983: Starting the GNU Project
Newsgroup net.unix-wizards September 27, 1983
Free Unix!
Starting this Thanksgiving I am going to write a
complete Unix-compatible software system called GNU
(for Gnu's Not Unix), and give it away free(1) to
everyone who can use it. Contributions of time, money,
programs and equipment are greatly needed. [...]

5. Why we talk about Free Software
Why I Must Write GNU
I consider that the golden rule requires that if I like a
program I must share it with other people who like it.
I cannot in good conscience sign a nondisclosure
agreement or a software license agreement.
So that I can continue to use computers
without violating my principles, I have
decided to put together a sufficient body
of free software so that I will be able to
get along without any software that is
not free. [...]

6. Why we talk about Free Software
● 1985: Free Software Foundation
Concentrate on the GNU Project
● 1986: Free Software Definition
● “Free” as in Freedom
● 4 Freedoms: Use, Study, Share, Improve

7. Why we talk about Free Software
1989: GNU General Public License (GPL)
● First general freedom granting license
● First license with Copyleft
“... our General Public License is intended to guarantee
your freedom to share and change free software--to
make sure the software is free for all its users.”
(Preamble)

8. Why we talk about Free Software
● Today's focuses are
– Free Software community
– Legal aspects of Free Software
– Political work for Free Software
– Spreading the use of Free Software
– Users freedom - DRM
● 2001: Free Software Foundation
Europe

9. Why we talk about Free Software
● Projects, ideas and movements that have
been inspired by or are built on Free Software
– Creative Commons
– Internet and the world wide web
– Open Standards
– Wikipedia
– ...

10. Why others talk about Open Source
1997: Debian Social Contract
Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG)
Bruce Perens
10 Guidelines

11. Why others talk about Open Source
1998: Open Source Initiative started to promote
Free Software in the label of “Open Source”,
using Debian Free Software Guidelines as the
Open Source Definition
Marketing strategy:
● “Open Source” instead of “Free Software”
● Certification Mark
● OSI certification

12. Why others talk about Open Source
How is "open source" related to "free software"?
The Open Source Initiative is a marketing program for
free software. It's a pitch for "free software" on solid
pragmatic grounds rather than ideological tub-
thumping. The winning substance has not changed,
the losing attitude and symbolism have.
http://www.opensource.org/advocacy/faq.html, 1999

13. Open Source vs Free Software
● Technically, Open Source and Free Software are the
same
● Historically different emphasis
● Free Software Foundation and Richard Stallman
refuse to talk about “Open Source”, because it is
missing the point of Freedom.
● “Open Source” more popular in business - “Free
Software” more popular in the community

14. Why we talk about Free Software
About a year ago, I sent out a message
announcing "Open Source". […] Most
hackers know that Free Software and Open
Source are just two words for the same thing.
Unfortunately, though, Open Source has de-
emphasized the importance of the freedoms
involved in Free Software. It's time for us to
fix that. […] It's Time to Talk about Free
Software Again.
Bruce Perens, 17-2-1999