“Freedom Software” versus “Free Software”

A Tech article with View Comments posted 30 July 2008.
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This article is #3 in the 8 part series Freedom Software and the Church

“‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy; …O, be some other name! What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…” – Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Perhaps the most frustrating thing for me as an advocate for the use of Free(dom) software in the church is explaining the term “Free Software.” What does that mean? Most people, hearing that name, think “freeware” – any software that is free to use without serious limitations. But, of course, that’s only half of the meaning behind the term.

When explaining the term “Free Software” people most commonly use the phrase “free as in beer, free as in speech” to talk about the difference between the two meanings of the English word “free.” “Free as in beer” refers to “freeware,” software which is available free of charge but over which you have little extra control. Sometimes you can redistribute freeware, sometimes, not, and the terms are dictated (and, to an extent, can be changed) by the author of the software.

On the other hand, “free as in speech” refers to what I like to call “Freedom Software.” With Freedom Software, one has an inviolable right to use, copy, redistribute, and usually even modify the software if you so choose. Freedom Software licenses like the GNU Public License are more focused towards guaranteeing the freedoms of the recipients of the software than the rights of the author.

The ambiguous meaning of the word “free” in English is the source of the trouble. When I introduce the topic of “Free Software,” I have to spend time talking about the difference between “free as in beer” and “free as in speech.” It’s hard to make a compelling case for change when you’re hung up on semantics. By talking and writing about “Freedom Software,” it’s far easier to make the important point about freedom.

There are two pivotal issues for churches (and nearly everyone else) when it comes to software licensing: cost and freedom. Using the term “Freedom Software” is, in my opinion, the best way to emphasize the benefits of free software to churches.

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More articles in the series Freedom Software and the Church:

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  1. Freedom Software vs. Freedomware?
  2. Starting Point for Freedom Software in the Church
  3. The Christian Ethos of Freedom Software
  4. Why Open Source Software is like Church Coffee Beans
  5. Freedom Software, Competition, and WordPress Plugins

  • Don't forget "Victory Cabbage!" I hadn't considered that connotation. Nevertheless, the ambiguity of the word "free" remains, and the most important aspect of Freedom Software to churches isn't its cost, but it's lack of limitations. I'm certainly open to other suggestions. The alternatives don't appeal, though. "Open Source" is more about what programmers can do with it, and "Software Libre" hasn't caught on. Ideas?
  • My problem with "Freedom software" is the war on terror. It sounds too much like "freedom fries." I'd get laughed at as a first reaction from most of my friends in Canada for using the term.
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