Just because academic types write long texts about how free software is
marxist doesn't mean that free software has marxist roots, or that the
important figures in its development had any motivations in economic
philosophy at all when they started writing their software. Linus
Torvalds, Richard Stallman, Eric Raymond, etc. are NOT marxists. The
only really philosphical one among them is Stallman, and his motivation
is to preserve the freedom of ideas, not to impose communism on the
software industry. Free software means free as in freedom, not free as
in free beer. Most people who write and use free software are more
likely to describe themselves as libertarian than anything else. Anyone
who calls it marxist or communist is generally going to be either a
capitalist who's products don't offer enough value to beat free software
in the marketplace or a communist trying to claim that the success of
free software validates their point of view. Both are wrong.
Glenn
Collin R Brendemuehl wrote:
http://www.oekonux.org/texts/marketrelations.html
and there's more, if you want to talk seriously.
Collin