[Koha-devel] Open Source or Free Software?

[MJ Ray]

Rachel Hamilton-Williams <rachel at katipo.co.nz> wrote:
> I am aware that almost always there is cost to a library to implement
> Koha - particularly to a big public library (always our goal). So
> we thought that Open Source was more "accurate" than Free.  We also
> are aware that large organisations very much evaluate software on a
> "you get what you pay for" basis - so we thought that *not* saying
> Koha was Free might at least get us a look in.

Isn't it simpler to remind people of the free/free duality than to explain
the very long OSI OSD?  Or do you just wave hands and not explain to them
at all the flexibility and rights that you are offering?  "Open Source"
is not a particularly accurate description of the OSI OSD.

> At the time we were the first Open Source library system - but not
> the first Free one - so to get that Kudos, we wanted to be Open Source.

What previous free software licensed library systems have existed?
Why were they not open source too?  I've yet to see software meeting
the Free Software Definition that doesn't meet the Open Source Definition.

MJR