[CS-FSLUG] The Moral Foundation of Free Software

[Robert W.]

On 01/04/2005 06:30:16 PM, Leon Brooks wrote:
> The Bible is a unique blend of socialist and individualist  
> principles.
> 
> My view is that if Freeing the software enables many community  
> members to do a little better, where leaving it proprietary only  
> benefits you, then by all means Free it. If everyone involved is  
> doing this, then everyone involved is working to make your life  
> better. In Real Life, very few will be so community-minded, but as  
> long as *enough* people are, it doesn't matter. The greedy  
> proprietors will be cut off at the knees by the competition, and the  
> non-greedy ones (ie that aren't relying their proprietary leverage as  
> a weapon in the marketplace) will prosper alongside everyone else.  
> You will be breadwinner by ongoing use of your skills, not by  
> chaining an idea in a corner and charging admission to see it.

Could the Bible be considered more feudalistic? Everything belongs to  
God. And we use it with His permission.

In that view, "intellectual property" like software ultimately belongs  
to God. Therefore, our distribution of the software He allows us to  
write falls under His commandments. Jesus stated that the first two  
commandments are: "love the LORD your God with all your heart", and  
"love your neighbor as yourself".

Has anyone encountered a proprietary software license that is  
restricted in order to fulfil one of those commandment? My personal  
experience is quite limited. So I don't want to assume anything either  
way.

--
Robert W.
robertwo at access-4-free.com

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. -- Matthew 7:7