Re: FSF drops Apple boycott, opens gate for GNAT, etc.

[rfh@mitre.org (Rich Hilliard)]

[ I normally prefer making email responses to news postings, but the
 poster's address bounced, so I'm posting here. ]

In article <INFO-ADA%95020709583652@VM1.NODAK.EDU>
CONDIC@PSAVAX.PWFL.COM writes:

> O.K. I'm a little lost. I've been reading this thread over the last
> couple of days and could use a little history.

OK, some quick history (for more, see the URL in my signature):

  In 1989, Apple's look and feel lawsuit against Microsoft brought the
  idea of interface copyright to the attention of the programming
  community. Apple was trying to claim a monopoly over a broad class
  of graphical user interfaces. If Apple succeeded, not only
  Microsoft, but every software developer, would be legally compelled
  to design gratuitously incompatible software.

  In response, John Gilmore and Richard Stallman together commissioned
  the design of the "fanged Apple" -- a button showing the Apple logo
  with vicious teeth. This was followed by an advertisement placed in
  The Tech, MIT's student newspaper, which in turn led to a protest
  rally at the HQ of Lotus Development Corporation--another "look and
  feel" lawsuit plaintiff.

  The enthusiastic response to the first protest led to the formation
  of the League for Programming Freedom in late 1989.

  The general aim of the League for Programming Freedom is to prevent
  monopolies on software development.  Initially the League's only
  specific position was against interface copyright. But once the
  League began to operate, members called its attention to the problem
  of software patents. In December 1990 [check this date], the League
  members voted to adopt a position opposing software patents.

> 1) Is/was there some sort of boycott by FSF of Apple/Macintosh
> machines?

The LPF was the group that initiated the boycott, not FSF.  Free
Software Foundation (no relation to the LPF) recognised the LPF's
boycott.
 
> 2) For what reason?

See above.  Also see Kenner's earlier note in this thread which quite
eloquently stated why Apple's actions are a real threat to free
software.

But it's worth pointing out the LPF has no position on free software;
only on the two issues of software patents and user interface
copyrights.  There are consequently a number of corporate members of
LPF who share its goals on these matters.

> 3) Did it have any impact?
 
Debatable.

> 4) If the boycott is over, how did this come about? (Is there some
> sort of secret cabal running FSF who went into a smoke filled room,
> made a decision and pronounced it to the world?)

The board of directors of the *LPF* voted to end it last Fall;
determining to fight software patents and look and feel issues in
other ways (court actions, public awareness).


> 5) Is there any immediate impact for the Mac world or FSF world?

Threads like this one. :-)

--

Rich Hilliard


The MITRE Corporation, M/S B155
Bedford, MA  01730

(617) 271-5782

I'm a member of the League for Programming Freedom
lpf@uunet.uu.net
http://www.lpf.org/