Stallman, "The GNU Manifesto"

Summary In his article, "The GNU Manifesto", Richard Stallman makes the argument in favor of free software. By free software, he means software that doesn't need to be copyrighted or that people don't need "permission to use" (550). He explains that his intent by saying free software was not to be interpreted as "copies of GNU should always be distributed at little or no charge" (550). Later in the manifesto he explains ways to make a profit by providing the service of distribution, and that the important thing is that everyone who has a copy of the software be free to cooperate with other users of this software (550). Over the course of the article, Stallman intends to reach fellow prgrammers by discounting claims against, or questions discounting, the value of programming software for little monetary reward. By citing that programming of this sort will add to the knowledge base of society, the creativity of society, and will not block progression as a result, Stallman makes the argument for a revolution against copyrights and licensure, and for freedom to do as you wish with software. As the creator of a free software system, GNU, Stallman stakes his claim to be able to have the freedom to improve and share this software with other users. He desires to be able to change the software he's using to better fit his needs, and feels that other users and programmers should also have this freedom. Inquiry Stallman's claims are borderline ludicrous. The idea of programmers forgoing profit to better society makes no sense in the world we live in today. For example, in congress today there is the idea of levying energy taxes on large corporations for polluting our environment. While I support this tax, and while this tax would absolutely benefit society by reducing pollution, in no way shape or form are corporations going to agree willingly to pay more money for production than they have to. Stallman discounts the argument of monetary reward saying there can be rewards in other forms, such as creativity and even fame. For this I applaud him, as I quietly laugh at his ludicrous proposition to take money away from people who work for it. I see no value to anyone from taking away their right to have their work become lawfully owned by them through a copyright or licensure agreement. I don't see monopolistic corporations, such as Microsoft, ever be willing to implement "free" software in their realm of work, and finally I don't see how his idea of "free software" is even really free. Levying a tax on the software buyers to compensate for lost profits, charging for services to teach and assist with software, etc. These are all forms of a not very "free" environment. Futhermore, to address the issue of free as the ability to share with users: The best programmers work for the best companies, and DO use feedback to improve their products. Anyone can post comments on the internet on ways to improve the software, albeit in often cases they can run into legal issues. To me, Stallman just wants the ability to legally change things to better suit him, not necessarily to better suit society. The free market works to better society by giving those who create the best product, the best reward, and in today's world that reward is in the form of monetary compensation. I see no reason to change the way this operates, nor do I see this change ever happening. I believe that social gain can come from the system that is currently in use now by way of giving the best people the best reward for creating the best product, and I think it is necessary for them to work very hard to be the best. As our constitution states, the people have the right to property. That property includes that which is in their head, and not just where their residence is built, and to take away the right to this property is to take away a fundamental right and principal that this country was built on. 1) What do you think of Stallman's proposition of "free" software, and what does "free" mean to you? 2) Should copyright and license agreements on software be eliminated? 3) How would society as a whole benefit from the "free" software that Stallman describes?