O_O These Linux folks apparently stooped to about Microsoft levels!

http://reddevil62-techhead.blogspot.com/2010/03/elive-20-topaz-gem-that-comes-at-price.html

Nothing to add here - I don't mind donating, but i don't appreciate being "tricked" into doing so.

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doesn't the GNU prohibit forcing people to pay for anything running the Linux Kernel?

Nope, free software is about freedom, not price. You can sell Linux for anything you want to sell it for. However, the person who receives it can also copy it and give it to his/her friends, modify it, put it up for download, etc.

Stallman made a living by getting paid to add features to emacs, although he never restricted its sale.

The free software movement says nothing about selling software, it is all about removing the oppressive restrictions on proprietary software.

I also donate to free software, but I refuse to buy it (e.g. I have real problems with Cedega).

Methal said:

doesn't the GNU prohibit forcing people to pay for anything running the Linux Kernel?

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Actually it's 100% the opposite: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html

Actually, we encourage people who redistribute free software to charge as much as they wish or can. If this seems surprising to you, please read on.

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That's to funny.

So basically they can sell it, but they can't force people to not do whatever they want with the code?

Methal said:

That's to funny.

So basically they can sell it, but they can't force people to not do whatever they want with the code?

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Yes you can sell free software. You can charge the cost of the CD or whatever you want. The only thing is that you have to provide the source code on request if they want it (under the GPL).

MRD said:

I also donate to free software, but I refuse to buy it (e.g. I have real problems with Cedega).

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Last time I looked, I found one article where Cedega claims to have contributed back to Wine, with a grand total of 12 patches over a period of 3 years. I use Crossover now

Methal said:

That's to funny.

So basically they can sell it, but they can't force people to not do whatever they want with the code?

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That's the whole point of free as in libre.

Analogy:

U.S. "Bill of Rights" constitutional amendments. You have rights, and you're allowed to do whatever within those rights, as long as you don't infringe upon others' rights.

GPL says you can do whatever you want with the code, as long as you don't prevent anybody else from doing whatever they want with the code.

petteyg359 said:

U.S. "Bill of Rights" constitutional amendments. You have rights, and you're allowed to do whatever within those rights, as long as you don't infringe upon others' rights.

GPL says you can do whatever you want with the code, as long as you don't prevent anybody else from doing whatever they want with the code.

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Well put.