[Koha-devel] Open Source or Free Software?

[MJ Ray]

On 2003-04-22 22:25:44 +0100 Chris Cormack <chris at katipo.co.nz> wrote:

>> OK, fair enough, but that's not free software, as was being 
>> discussed.
> Yep, which kinda demonstrates one of the weaknesses in the term free 
> software.
> As you say below, its all about the explanation, not the term :)

I think it demonstrates the weakness of the argument for "open source" 
that its supporters still rely on the free/free duality even though 
the denial of their trademark established the many meanings of the 
words open and source. ;-)

> Ahh yeah, but if I was describing Koha to a Maori audience, id use 
> the term Koha, a concept honed over thousands of years :-)

Much nicer, indeed, but Maori audiences are rare over here ;-)  (Also, 
gift is not exactly the same in all cases of free software, but 
accurate here.)

[...]
> So you can call it Free Software, I can call it Koha, Rachel can call 
> it
> Open Source [...]

That's fine.  I currently use the "download koha" graphic that is free 
of the branding, but it would be very nice to get rid of the open 
source branding from the site, or at least acknowledge the main 
movement too.  Not a high priority, though.

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