Re: Free Technology (was: Re: gEDA-user: Electric clothing and gEDA at NYLUG!)

[Karel Kulhavý <clock@twibright.com>]

On Mon, Jul 12, 2004 at 11:53:48PM -0400, Ales Hvezda wrote:
> 
> 
> [ Ales here, I'm reposting this since majordomo didn't recognize the
>   e-mail as being subscribed to the geda-dev/geda-user mailinglist. ]
> 
> -- Cut here --
> From: Mikey Sklar <sklarm@electric-clothing.com>
> 
> Hi Karel,
> 
> I agree with you that my use of "Open Source" a more closed definition
> than your term "Free Technology".
> 
> Although rather than invent yet another term "Free Technology". We could
> all probably agree to use one of the existing terms that opencollector.org
> (the site which you originally pointed out) has documented. I believe
> the "Free Technology" seems to be synonymous with "Open Hardware" in
> this case.
> 
> http://www.opencollector.org/Whyfree/open_hardware.html
> http://www.opencollector.org/Whyfree/definitions.html
> 
> I now prefer "Open Hardware" as it removes the word free, which often
> leads to confusion as whether its free as in freedom or costs nothing.

But http://www.opencollector.org/Whyfree/open_hardware.html says that
"Open Hardware" is a registered trademark :)

Cl<
> 
> Summary
> -------
> To fully qualify as 'open hardware':
> 
> 1. The interface to the hardware must be explicitly made public, so
>    the hardware can be used freely.
> 
> 2. The design of the hardware must be made public, so that others
>    can implement it and learn from it.
> 
> 3. The tools used to create the design should be free, so that
>    others can develop and improve the design.=20
> 
> On Thu, 1 Jul 2004, Karel [iso-8859-1] Kulhav=FD wrote:
> > I don't like the term "Open Source" because it means only the sources are=
>  open
> > and nothing more. What is most interesting for me is when the design is f=
> ree
> > (libre).
> >=20
> > I would rather introduce the term "Free Technology" that requires
> > 1) The design tools are free technology too (recursivity property)
> > 2) There is a building guide for a layman how to build and use the produc=
> t
> >    (portability of the building process and usage property).
> > 3) The licence for the documentation permits incorporation into other fre=
> e
> >   technologies (inclusion property) and inclusion into non-free technolog=
> y
> >   is discouraged (spreading property).
>