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Free software has lost. Open source has won. We're all the bettr

Salut Ti-Guy!I dont really listen to FLOSS podcast, Ive been told its more Linux friendly now but I had my fill last year with Shwartz bashing free software/GPL (the guys from TLLS did a part on that ) that I just listen to Linux Outlaws, TLLS or other fine podcasts instead.My problem isnt with the judging since youre bound to be bias one way or another.If you had a canuck like Aaron Seigo (I agree that we should promote Cancon at these things. how about some guy like Robin Millette who is legendary in QC in free software?) on the panel, you know he would have been pro-GPL.So I cant say that Shwartz would have been less bias or more than Seigo or other GPL lover.Beside, you didnt take this seriously did you?For pete's sake, we have these kinds of events all the time and a recent one had Dan Lyons, the SCO mouthpiece and Rob Enderle wannabee at one just recently. Heck, Enderle spoke at one a few years back (but that was the thing that snakeoil salesmen Carmony organized so it made perfect sense.)What Lyons or Enderle have to teach is simply unfathomable.Then again, Im not an open source developer, all my projects are GPL family and one of themain reasons I joined them. I have no need/use/desire for BSD, Apache, MS-PL or other open sauce licenses. Is there use for other licenses? Of course. Not even the FSF argues against their existence. You choose the one which suits you. And one of the seems to suit many more people that all the other put together.Look, Im not a fan of Shwartz but I have a much BIGGER problem with Asay being the one defending the GPL. Seriously, the best analogy was given by our Java expert Marie-Josee who says its like having Dracula guard a blood bank. Right on the nose.Every week or so Asay comes out with anti-free software rants or bars, always reminding people how restrictive (not for users for companies) the GPL is and how its ran its course and with full of ESR quotes in hand, you more of less know that the GPL aint getting anything positive.This week is another beaut:http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10361785-16.htmland it starts and ends with: "Free software has lost. Open source has won. We're all the better for it."THIS is the guy you had defend the GPL?MJ is right on with that Dracula thing. (heck, Enderle would fit just as well)You couldnt have made a worse choice if you tried.How can someone defend the GPL when he worries about 'choice' when  Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study code.Every month we get the "GPL is dying" articles when it (and the family L, A, etc) is by far the most popular FLOSS license. Its a constant attack. The GPL still bothers (I truly believe that Microsoft could very well work with open source licenses but more than Linux or anything else, it is the GPL they fear/loath)There is a group of people for whom the GPL was useful but they want to alleviate the demands it 'imposes' on corporation. Those are people with agendas. Those are people for whom this is a zero sum game.Free software has to disappear for open sauce to win. I dont expect a mea culpa but we all laughed our asses of at work when we saw who the GPL defender was and we realized that this was nothing more than an exercice in PR so we took it for what is was worth.I fully expect Dracula next year.SylvainMontreal,QC

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