Tristan Nitot, President of Mozilla Europe, makes some interesting points in a recent story in SkyNews:
They take for granted that the freedom they enjoy is forever. I don’t think it is like that. The internet is full of promise but the future is not bright unless we make sure it is.
This rings true for me, and I think it is a point oft-missed by critics of Free Software. There seems to be some line of thinking – especially among the anti-Free Software crowd that it is “Mission Accomplished” and is now time for everyone to gather hands round the campfire and sing Kumbaya.
This is usually couched in terms of “either way is a win for the consumer” or similar nonsense – as if all ends are equally desirable.
I don’t get this thinking. FLOSS has made incredible gains thanks to core principles – gains made despite one of the world’s largest corporations best and slimiest attempts to retard progress – but somehow, now that FLOSS is enjoying real commercial and philosophical success it is time to discard those principles?
Freedom, including Software Freedom, is not forever and requires constant effort.
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