65 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
65 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
---
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created_at: '2016-06-03T02:31:52.000Z'
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title: RMS on the Ogg Vorbis license (2001)
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url: http://lwn.net/2001/0301/a/rms-ov-license.php3
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author: d99kris
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points: 100
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story_text:
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comment_text:
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num_comments: 82
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story_id:
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story_title:
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story_url:
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parent_id:
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created_at_i: 1464921112
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_tags:
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- story
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- author_d99kris
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- story_11827899
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objectID: '11827899'
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year: 2001
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---
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[Source](http://lwn.net/2001/0301/a/rms-ov-license.php3 "Permalink to LWN.net: RMS on the Ogg Vorbis license")
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# LWN.net: RMS on the Ogg Vorbis license
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| ----- |
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| ![\[LWN Logo\]][1] | |
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| ![\[LWN.net\]][2] | |
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Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 22:23:38 -0700 (MST)
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From: Richard Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
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To: ben@algroup.co.uk
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Subject: Re: [open-source] [Fwd: [icecast-dev] Xiph.org announces Vorbis Beta 4 and the Xiph.org
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The GPL is not an end in itself; it is a measure to protect our
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freedom. In general I would rather see software copylefted, which is
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one way of defending users' freedom against one particular danger. In
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the case of Ogg/Vorbis, there is a bigger danger from another
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direction: the danger that people will settle on MP3 format even
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though it is patented, and we won't be *allowed* to write free
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encoders for the most popular format.
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To overcome the inertia that supports MP3 format will require
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strenuous effort. Even if we do our utmost to encourage everyone to
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replace MP3 format with Ogg/Vorbis format, it is not certain they will
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do so. Consider how long we have been trying to replace GIF with PNG.
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Ordinarily, if someone decides not to use a copylefted program because
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the license doesn't please him, that's his loss not ours. But if he
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rejects the Ogg/Vorbis code because of the license, and uses MP3
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instead, then the problem rebounds on us--because his continued use of
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MP3 may help MP3 to become and stay entrenched.
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Thus, my agreement with the idea of a lax license in this special case
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is just as pragmatic as my preference for the GPL in most cases. In
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both cases it is a matter of how we can attain freedom.
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[1]: http://lwn.net/images/lcorner.png
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[2]: http://lwn.net/images/Included.png
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