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Summary: VLC helps expose Apple's real zeal and disdain for freedom, which Groklaw believes will pressure Apple to rethink its ways and undo the hostile EULA

"I am glad that VLC is enforcing the GPL against Apple," Richard Stallman wrote some days ago regarding the VLC saga.

Pamela Jones from Groklaw (winner of an FSF award) cites her friend Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols and adds: "As Simon Phipps points out on identi.ca, the headline should more accurately read, "Apple's EULA blocks distribution of all GPL software including VLC." But you know what? It's fine with me if there is a clear dividing line. Get an Android if you want to have it all. If you want Apple's tightly controlled, DRM'd environment instead, you can have it. Over time, my bet is that Apple will fix this problem, because in the long run, it's in their economic interest to do so. Plus may I point out that the GPL was around long before the Apple AppStore, so if there is a conflict, it isn't the GPL that made it happen."

“We increasingly cover Apple in this Web site because it's a real problem, in some way greater than Microsoft which is imploding anyway.”Additionally, pointing to this article about Skyfire in Apple's App Store, Jones writes: "this is why I know in due time Apple is likely to fix the GPL compatibility problem at its AppsStore. It's all about what customers want, and if enough people want something, they usually can get it. And the opposite is also true."

Groklaw has been quite forgiving towards Apple. In recent months, however, Groklaw was reformed this attitude and did a lot less to promote Apple's side. We increasingly cover Apple in this Web site because it's a real problem, in some way greater than Microsoft which is imploding anyway. As argued in yesterday's show, Apple is to choice what having two parties representing the same business interests is to politics. The real choice comes from freedom. ⬆