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The Future of Democracy is Spelled GNU
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posted by mpawlo
on Friday January 03, @03:22PM
from the review dept.
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Review of Free Software, Free Society
GNU Press, 2002
I am not religiously convinced of the free software’s supremacy. That alone is enough to annoy the fierce and bearded author of Free Software, Free Society. The father of free software, Richard M Stallman, has collected his texts and essays in a book. It was in due time. This is a rave review of one of the most important books released in recent years. Still Stallman will probably hate me for this review.
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Stallman has formulated a set of rules regulating free software:
The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1).
The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour (freedom 2).
The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. (freedom 3).
These four rules make computer programs –protected by copyright – possible to develop in entirely new ways, very different from traditional licensing schemes. The source code will be disclosed, should the computer program be distributed. The source code describes the computer program in the same way a recipe describes a cooked dinner. The source code is the most accessible state of a computer program, to put it simple. It is the best form to make modifications of the program and to investigate its functionality.
Stallman realises that very few in practice will actually benefit from the access to the source code, but states that it is important that the source code is reviewed by those who have such competence. Stallman wants the development of computer programs to be under the scrutinisation of many eyes to create computer programs that are more functional, safer and more democratic. The latter may sound insidious to many. The term "democracy" is used in a wide array of areas that do not have much to do with the belief in freedom and equality between people. Is that the case this time? No. Stallman views the computer programs as part of the fundamental architecture of the information society. The computer programs regulate and limit our behaviour in most aspects in the digital world. This is very visible after the breakthrough of the Internet, but there are computer programs elsewhere, in everything from laundry machines to ATM:s. It is hard to use any machine without running a computer program. By making the computer programs available in source code they can be studied and through the new transparency in the development process there is a decreased risk of behavioural steering and limitations of expression in the computer programs. Hence, free software is a warranty for fundamental rights in a democracy.
In his collection of essays, Stallman explains in some 200 pages the philosophy behind free software. The collection is built upon Stallman’s previous writings and it contains both old and new material. It is a mix of debate, philosophy and agitation forming the spine of the stallmanian movement GNU, Gnu’s Not Unix. The book is wrapped-up with a dictionary where words carrying values in the Wittgenstein way are explained and alternative words are suggested (such as "piracy" and "intellectual property"). The reader is also provided with a hardcopy of the licenses that regulate free software. The four freedoms are manifested through the GNU-movement’s license GNU GPL. In practice the GNU-movement has – indirectly through its licenses and directly through support and development – created the famous operating system GNU/Linux and it is not possible to send an email over the Internet without using free software. It seems that free software is here to stay.
Stanford law professor Lawrence Lessig has written an introduction to Free Software, Free Society. In is introduction, Lessig notes that Richard M Stallman is a hard man to like. I can easily agree. Stallman is as soon to attack his supporters as his opponents. He is stubborn and persistent. Stallman is not willing to compromise. Many trying to support Stallman and the GNU-movement have received grace through emails filled with taunts and reprimands.
The book is packed with the same aura. This is not a diplomat writing. The anger almost puts the pages on fire when Stallman deals with subjects such as software patents, non-free software and even the sister movement of open source.
Many of the texts are available online. I would still recommend a purchase of the hardcopy. The printed form provides the reader with lucidity not available on the computer screen.
In spite of being a grumbler, Stallman could never be accused of being boring. The thoughts on computer programs are mind-boggling and regardless of how Stallman will be looked upon in history his thoughts have dominated the debate on regulation and ethics of computer programs the latest years and most probably will affect current major strategy choices of companies like IBM, Apple and Microsoft.
Every IT-policy maker and IT-procurement officer should read this book. However, the book touches on subjects affecting a much larger audience and everyone who ever thought of the architecture that regulates the Internet and our computers will have plenty of defining moments with Free Software, Free Society. You will, however, run the risk of becoming religious.
Mikael Pawlo
Mikael Pawlo is an associate of the Swedish law firm Advokatfirman Lindahl. On nights and weekends he works as an editor for the leading Swedish open source and free software publication Gnuheter. He is also contributing editor of the Harvard Berkman Center publication on Internet law issues, Greplaw.org.
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