Re: [GNU-linux-libre] A call to free software, and its users

[Alexandre Oliva]

On Aug 18, 2009, Rubén Rodríguez Pérez <address@hidden> wrote:

> Gnash allows you -with no non-free software required- to view animations
> stored in a proprietary format, like Abiword can open a word file.

> Also remember: a non-free firmware file is *not* data in a proprietary
> format (like a word file), it is a non-free program. So using Gnash as a
> comparison is misleading.

The comparison is not as misleading as it might seem, because
Flash/ShockWave files often contain actual programs written in
ActionScript (a variant of JavaScript/ECMAScript).  Most such programs
are non-Free.

Gnash won't stop you from running them, but there's nothing in Gnash
that asks the user (or any other piece of software) for any non-Free
Software.  It is only an enabler, not a promoter of non-Free Software.
Very much like say GNU libc.

Linux, OTOH, even if all pieces of non-Free Software are removed from
its guts, is still more than an enabler of the use of non-Free Software.
It's a promoter, because it contains drivers that request specific
pieces of non-Free Software.  Nearly all drivers that do refuse to work
until you satisfy their demand.

-- 
Alexandre Oliva, freedom fighter    http://FSFLA.org/~lxoliva/
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. -- Gandhi
Be Free! -- http://FSFLA.org/   FSF Latin America board member
Free Software Evangelist      Red Hat Brazil Compiler Engineer