It is almost always prohibited to copy, to distribute, to reproduce or to modify most of the products that has as raw material the information, the technology or the knowledge. Now, there are proliferated in the world whole movements that defend the flag of the collaborative system of knowledge production (such as Open Source Software), creating tangible solutions, intelligent and profitable, among other things. Alternatives more accessible and fairer.

The main characteristic of a free software is the opening of the code source. The users can study how the software works and can adapt it to their needs, altering it according to their needs; once a problem is solved or a new adaptation is made it is published and it can be used by all, without paying anything.

The larger example of this dispute seems to be between Windows and Linux, both, operating systems for computers. The common user, accustomed with the interface of Windows and without deepened knowledge of computer science, takes too long to habituate with Linux.

Thinking exactly about that consumer type, Ubuntu was developed – Linux For Human Beings – an operating system based on Linux that promises to be much easier of using.

What gets attention in this dispute is that it includes not only technological subjects; it also involves the politics, the economy and the sphere of the social development because the technologies developed close to the community make possible the fastest return of the invested capital for the own community.

And it is exactly that that Linux allows: its adaptability helps to solve local problems, reducing the costs and with faster results.

Via: Le Monde Diplomatique.