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<title>The advantages of free software |
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- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> |
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<div class="article reduced-width"> |
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<h2>The advantages of free software</h2> |
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|
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<address class="byline">by Richard Stallman</address> |
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<div class="introduction"> |
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<p><em>People outside the free software movement frequently ask about |
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the practical advantages of free software. It is a curious question.</em></p> |
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</div> |
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<p>Nonfree software is bad because it denies your freedom. Thus, asking |
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about the practical advantages of free software is like asking about |
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the practical advantages of not being handcuffed. Indeed, it has |
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advantages:</p> |
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<ul> |
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<li>You can wear an ordinary shirt.</li> |
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<li>You can get through metal detectors without triggering them.</li> |
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<li>You can keep a hand on the steering wheel while you shift gears.</li> |
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<li>You can pitch a baseball.</li> |
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<li>You can carry a backpack.</li> |
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</ul> |
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<p>We could find more, but do you need these advantages to |
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convince you to reject handcuffs? Probably not, because you |
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understand that your freedom is what's at stake.</p> |
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<p>Once you realize that that's what's at stake with nonfree software, |
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you won't need to ask what practical advantages free software has.</p> |
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<p>Please send general FSF & GNU inquiries to |
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<a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><gnu@gnu.org></a>. |
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There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a> |
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<p>Copyright © 2010, 2021 Richard Stallman</p> |
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<p class="unprintable">Updated: |
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$Date: 2021/10/01 10:44:34 $ |
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