[Python-mode] FSF assignment policy

[Stephen J. Turnbull]

Andreas Roehler writes:

 > IMO assignment policy contradicts the spirit of free software.

Please, Andreas, drop this thread.  You are not going to change
anyone's mind.

Here's why:

 > Copyright is an important issue now, taken very seriously.

Which is as it must be; the threat perceived by the free software
movement is from outside the community.  Of course, the so-called open
source advocates perceive that threat as an opportunity.
Nevertheless, copyright remains important there, too.

 > Assignment stifles cooperation

True (aside from the exaggeration inherent in "stifle").  That is an
unavoidable side effect of a policy that is necessary from one point
of view.

 > rather then being helpful.

It is helpful.  The GNU Project's mission is to preserve a body of
code sufficient to support a free operating system, and it is the
FSF's job to provide legal support for that.  The assignment allows
the FSF to defend code you contribute on your behalf, at no cost to
you.  It would be far more costly to defend the code if it were not
assigned.

*You* may not find that helpful, and there's nothing wrong with your
perception if not.  But many others do, and a lot of good has come of
that.

 > My offer was and is: let's cooperate.

In all sincerity, good luck to you!  It's not easy, though.