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School teacher claims "No software is free, Linux is not legal"
David M Williams
Sunday, 14 December 2008 17:14
Page 1 of 3
A teacher in Austin, Texas, has confiscated Linux CDs being handed out by a student because, she claims, "No software is free and spreading that misconception is harmful." Just how much has the Redmond marketing machine infiltrated our educational institutions?
This means that poor and sick children receive a fully working computer with a modern operating system, an office suite, multimedia tools and a rich set of other applications.
Software licensing has always been a sticky point for charities that refurbish and donate computers. Microsoft has been in the news on more than one occasion for striking at non-profit organisations who bundled unlicensed copies of Windows and Office on their systems.
Clearly, Microsoft was legally in the right, but the fact remains the most common operating system in use is a proprietary, commercial, retail product. You may not distribute it – irrespective of motive or altruism – without legally obtaining a license.
Microsoft has made varying concessions to charities over time, but these still all involve a charge. No matter the size of the discount a fee is still a fee – and places a burden in raising and administering funding on the charities.
By contrast, Linux is a tremendous alternative. It is free of charge, and free of obligation. It can be used for any purpose and can be re-distributed to any person.
Linux may be upgraded perpetually and this includes not just the operating system itself, but its vast collection of quality open source software that provide full functionality for all one’s computing needs.
Imagine the surprise of the Helios Project then when an Austin school teacher wrote this last week to criticise their very work and to question the legality of their operation. It is flabbergasting that such an e-mail originated from within an institute of education.
Read on for the astounding e-mail that “Karen” sent – and just why it bugs me so much.
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