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By Cara Garretson
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) on Wednesday launched a public-awareness campaign -- complete with a "freedom rally" on the Boston Common -- against Microsoft's pending Windows 7 operating system release.
FSF, whose mission is to "promote computer user freedom and defend the rights of all free software users," launched the effort in order to inform computer users of ways in which using Microsoft's proprietary software can hurt them. The group also sent letters to executives at corporations on the Fortune 500 list to warn them of the dangers of Windows 7.
"With windows7sins.org, we hope to make businesses and computer users aware of the growing dangers of proprietary software from both Microsoft and other companies such as Apple and Adobe," said FSF campaigns manager Matt Lee in a written statement. "With the release of Microsoft's updated operating system, business leaders have the opportunity to escape to freedom and join a growing list of leaders who understand that sinking money and time into proprietary software is a dead-end inconsistent with their best interests."
In its letter to Fortune 500 companies, FSF claims that Microsoft will sell Windows 7 -- due for release in October -- based on a combination of fear and intimidation. Microsoft, says FSF, will threaten to stop supporting older versions of Windows, and force users to be dependent on the company for their computer security, since only Microsoft can issue security updates to its operating system.
The letter adds that these actions constitute Microsoft abusing its monopoly position and inducing vendor lock-in.
According to FSF, the seven areas, or "sins," where Windows 7 can hurt users include:
- Invading privacy
- Poisoning education
- Locking in users
- Abusing standards
- Leveraging monopolistic behavior
- Enforcing digital restrictions management
- Threatening user behavior
The letter also urges companies to adopt free software such as the GNU/Linux operating system and the OpenOffice.org office productivity suite. FSF defines free software as being "about freedom, not price," according to the group's executive director Peter Brown. "Our growing dependence on computers and software requires our society to reevaluate its obsession with proprietary software that spies on citizens' activities and limits their freedom to be in control of their computing. There is free software available right now for any activity you or your business needs, and it is better in the most important aspect -- it respects your freedom."
The group is also asking "concerned citizens" to help get this message across by identifying other organizational leaders who should receive the letter, adding that those groups who use proprietary software are "undertaking bad public policy, often through ignorance or misplaced values."
This campaign is not the first time the FSF has taken on Microsoft, and the organization does not limit its anti-proprietary software stance to the Redmond technology giant. In a January letter posted to its Web site, FSF admits that Microsoft is an easy target, but far from the only target.
"If other companies manage to dominate fewer users than Microsoft, that is not for lack of trying," reads the letter. "When criticizing Microsoft, we must not exonerate the other companies that also make proprietary software."
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