[GOAL] libre vs open

[Nicolas Pettiaux]

Dear all,

This is only my second message to this list, after the
self-presentation, written a little earlier today.

Much discussion on this list, as well as in the literature and in the
academic world today discuss about Open Access, Open Source, Open
Innovation, Open Data, Open Educational Resources, Open Curriculum ...
OPEN something.

And we have seen the different meanings that people can give to Open
Access for example, leading to a further precision, Green Open Access
versus Gold Open Access. Different people have different definitions
about the single "open" word.

Such discussion has taken place since a long time in the software
communities that I know well. it started with "free software" in 1981
lead by Richard Stallman and Eben Moglen, and the words "open source"
have been introduced in 1998 by Bruce Perens and Eric Raymond,
purposedly to answer possible concerns by the "business world" about the
ambiguity of the English "free", meaning gratis (zero cost) as well as
libre (as in freedom).

Richard Stallman, who claims that the ethical aspects are extremely
important, and I would now support his views, is not pleased at all with
the extension that the words "open source" have taken, replacing "free
software" in many mouths and many circumstances.

In the software communities, we have nearly seen fights and strong
discussions about such topic, free versus open software.

In many circles, the adjective "libre", well known and understood in
Latin derived languages like Spanish and English, as emerged to stress
the aspect linked to the freedom that one gains, much more than the
practical and often economical benefits gained thanks to the freedom and
the derived openness.

I read that the word "libre" as been more and more accepted in English
(see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libre_(word) ), used to describe
something as being "free" in the sense of "having freedom" or "liberty"
and being distinguished fomr the free (as in "no cost")

I would therefore propose that, as in knowledge and all related works
and material, it is the freedom and the liberty that is the most
important (and the derived costless access too, but as derived benefit)
that we replace all the occurence of "open" by "libre" to consider
"libre access", "libre educational resources", "libre data", "libre
knowledge", "libre software" ...

Such a simple word change could lead to larger semantic changes, and
even though it could mean new references, and new usages, it could also
stress some important facts in most readings I have about these topics,
for example in the book "Open Access" by Peter Suber, that the true
freedom that the user gains is the one most susceptible to provide
larger benefits, and profit mankind.

What do you think about such a proposal ? ( replace all the occurence of
"open" by "libre" to consider "libre access", "libre educational
resources", "libre data", "libre knowledge", "libre software" ...)

I am looking forward to reading from you,

Best regards,

Nicolas

-- 
Nicolas Pettiaux, dr sc
nicolas at pettiaux.be

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