It must be time for another linus vs fsf comic
http://lwn.net/Articles/201269/
While I wouldn't put my hand into the fire for either Linus or the FSF, as far as I can see from his recent posts, Linus is no more trustworthy than the FSF in this (very funny, actually) spectacle.
* He uses the same tactics that he accuses the FSF of to persuade his audience: wiesel-wording, FUD, misinformation.
* His 'posse' threatens to fork FSF's projects over licensing issues, just in the way how he accuses the FSF to threaten to fork his kernel over licensing issues.
* He uses the 'put up or shut up' i.e. 'write your own kernel' argument when it comes to discussing the weak points of his argumentation. That's the same argument as 'you don't have to use GPLv3 licensed software, write your own'.
* He tolerates a non-transparent process for the sake of getting the outcome he wants (kernel devs position/poll on GPLv3 == GPLv3 draft committees)
* Assumes to speak for a movement (Open Source vs. Free Software).
* FSF zealots! vs. Most of our users don't believe in freedom.
etc.
If someone believes that a particular side has the higher moral ground in this, I congratulate them for being able to find it. I can't find much, so far.
Nevertheless, I find this all highly amusing, and I bet I'm not the only one. In the spirit of ELER and lonelygirl15, if this goes on for a few more weeks, I think I should start a DRM-free, CC-licensed, 'linusv3' video blog featuring sock puppets on YouTube and commercially exploit it. I'm sure the small-children-eating GPLv3 license draft '2' sock will be a big hit on CafePress.
A hilarious Forbes article touches on this as well: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1030/104_print.html
Some of the best parts are the paragraph about RMS's personal hygiene and references to his "his noisy worldwide cult of online jihadists." This could maybe turn into a GPLv3 comic, or even be split off into a separate "RMS as Osama bin Laden" (or something) comic of its own.
script idea 1
Panel 1: Stallman and Torvalds arguing Stallman: Tivoization is the way that vendors deny you the freedom to control the devices you buy. Torvalds: Look, Tivo has not done anything wrong. They are just trying to protect the integrity of their hardware. Panel 2: Stallman and Torvalds still arguing. Stallman: But these manufacturers want to take advantage of the freedom that free software provides, but they don't let you do likewise. Torvalds: Look, as far as I'm concerned, people who make their own hardware, can design them any which way they want. Whether that means "booting only a specific kernel," or "sharks with lasers," I don't care. Panel 3: Stallman and Torvalds still arguing. Stallman: You are misunderstanding what the spirit of the GPL license is all about, it's about respecting others' freedoms. Torvalds: That's a lot of bullshit. What happens when people just start installing new software on their devices? Panel 4: Raymond on the phone at computer desk, with a Tivo next to it. ESR: What do you mean you won't support my Tivo if I installed my own software on it? I had to add CML2 support!
Here are some links that the info was pulled from:
http://gplv3.fsf.org/rms-why.html
http://www.ussg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0706.1/2214.html