[Fsf-friends] FreeBSD and Free Software

Rajkumar S wrote: What is wrong in wearing a BSD badge? I always thought that BSD people do agree with FSF on many fundamental issues, and it is only that they think they give more freedom under the FreeBSD License than the GNU GPL. For example, at the FreeBSD.org FAQ, one finds the following: <quote> "1.2. What is the goal of the FreeBSD Project? The goal of the FreeBSD Project is to provide software that may be used for any purpose and without strings attached. Many of us have a significant investment in the code (and project) and would certainly not mind a little financial compensation now and then, but we definitely do not insist on it. We believe that our first and foremost ``mission'' is to provide code to any and all comers, and for whatever purpose, so that the code gets the widest possible use and provides the widest possible benefit. This is, we believe, one of the most fundamental goals of Free Software and one that we enthusiastically support. That code in our source tree which falls under the GNU General Public License (GPL) or GNU Library General Public License (LGPL) comes with slightly more strings attached, though at least on the side of enforced access rather than the usual opposite. Due to the additional complexities that can evolve in the commercial use of GPL software, we do, however, endeavor to replace such software with submissions under the more relaxed FreeBSD license whenever possible." </quote> There, you can see that they enthusiastically support the fundamental goals of Free Software. The "slightly more strings attached" part that obviously refers to the copyleft part of the GPL, which is well justified and defended in the GNU Philosophy section. One of the chief features of free software, is the "right to fork", and the copyleft clause ensures that the "right to fork" is meaningful in the present context.