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10.12.09

SFLC Technology Director Explains When Denouncement is Justified

Posted in Free/Libre Software, GNU/Linux, Microsoft, Novell, Patents at 4:53 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Summary: Bradley Kuhn explains why negative messages are not always detrimental to progress

WITH endorsement from the likes of Alexandre Oliva, Bradley Kuhn had a message to spread.

The place where negative campaigns that denounce are simply necessary, in my view, is when the practice either (a) will somehow completely impeded the creation of FLOSS or (b) has become, or is becoming, widespread among people who are otherwise supportive of software freedom.

This was apparently posted in response to an argument with OpenSUSE's community manager. We have no relation to the SFLC or FSF (or any other body for that matter), but for the reasons listed above we believe that Novell should be avoided; its patent deal with Microsoft impedes — not helps — Free software. Like with Skype and Hulu, it is too trivial to simply tolerate a threat, but alas, it is counter-productive. █

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