[IAEP] the FOSS "brand" and Sugar Labs

[Sean DALY]

I'm pleased we agree:
http://blogs.fsfe.org/fellowship-interviews/?p=4

Actually I think both FOSS and FLOSS will be misunderstood as a dental
product, with no connection to beer. But that's my marketer side
talking.

I use these terms to avoid spending time arguing about F/L vs. OS, I'd
rather talk about the freedoms than labels of the software embodying
the freedoms. And I'd *much* rather talk about how to educate the next
million children (and the millions after) by getting Sugar into
classrooms everywhere (ensuring thus that Learners and teachers
benefit from the freedoms, and benefit others in turn).

I know Richard M. Stallman having interviewed him on several
occasions, he is quite inflexible about nomenclature. I usually think
that uncompromising stance is helpful; others don't like that, yet
make very valuable contributions to software freedom.

Sean

P.S. I think you meant "liberal" in the European sense... that word
has a very different connotation in the USA where the phrase
"laissez-faire" is usually used instead.


On Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 6:27 PM, Jonas Smedegaard<dr at jones.dk> wrote:
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> On Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 04:36:37PM +0200, Sean DALY wrote:
>>It’s time for the community to take charge of its brand
>>http://blogs.fsfe.org/greve/?p=347
>>
>>The Agony of FOSS Branding
>>http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/features/article.php/3824046/The-Agony-of-FOSS-Branding
>>
>>
>>I have read Georg's piece with interest. Bruce Byfield's post is also
>>worth a read.
>>
>>I disagree however with the analysis that FOSS is a "brand" or should
>>develop its "brand". There is no brand and I'm not at all sure it
>>would be worth trying to develop one. Let me explain.
>
> Personally, I consider it a _concept_, and a free one, not owned by
> anyone to protect as a brand.
>
> And I call the concept "FLOSS", to emphasize the that "free" is not
> clear enough - that it _is_ a freedom fight, even if the liberals of the
> movement want to tone down that disturbing signal.
>
> FOSS means Free and Open Source Software.
>
> FLOSS means Free/Libre and Open Source Software.
>
> The first can be misunderstood as free beer, the last one can't.
>
>
>
>   - Jonas
>
> - --
> * Jonas Smedegaard - idealist og Internet-arkitekt
> * Tlf.: +45 40843136  Website: http://dr.jones.dk/
>
>   [x] quote me freely  [ ] ask before reusing  [ ] keep private
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