[OT] What is Open Source? (was Re: ANN: Twisted 0.16.0...)

[Paul Rubin]

"Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen at xemacs.org> writes:
> The consumer protection argument is the OSI line (a special case
> thereof), and rms don't have much truck with anything so economical
> and relativist.

RMS has many times described proprietary software as being like a
house with a locked basement, which only the original vendor could
access to fix the plumbing or furnace.  The freedom to have your
programs customized and maintained by anyone you want is an important
aspect of free software.  It's not just an "open source" thing; it's
an issue of liberty.