Oekonux Einführungskladde ohne Nutzungsexklusion

Translation: Oekonux introductory blotter without use exclusion

This is a translation of the original German version

"Oekonux" - what does that mean?

The project

Discussion process about Free Software and society
- Wide range of opinions
  Introduction is neither own opinion nor a simple presentation
  Something in between
- Common interest in emancipation
Mainly virtual
- Mailing lists [liste AT oekonux.de, list-en AT oekonux.org]
- Web sites [http://www.oekonux.de/, http://www.oekonux.org/]
- Wiki [http://en.wiki.oekonux.org/]
- Open Theory [http://www.opentheory.org/oekonux/]
Sometimes less virtual also (conference, talks)

Fourth Oekonux conference: 27.-29.3.2009, Manchester (UK)

"Free Software" - what does that mean?

Aspects, which are important for the Oekonux discussion

Characteristics of Free Software

Any software can be Free
- GNU/Linux, Apache, Gcc, Perl
  Examples for system related software
- KDE, OpenOffice.org, Gimp
  Examples for applications
- Software for router, mobile phones, ...
  Examples for embedded system
  Shows how deep software is integrated in our every day life
The actual product is gratis
However: Price plays a role, but is not crucial
Source code is available
Important for the most of the following four rights, which every user of Free Software has
- Software may be used for any purpose
- The sources may be studied and changed
- The software may be distributed arbitrarily
- Changed versions may be distributed arbitrarily

Free in the sense of freedom

Keyword: Free Software Licences

Licenses are contracts
- Govern under which conditions someone may do something with the software
  Proprietary software also uses licenses
- Especially: Use, modify, distribute
- Software licenses are based on copyright
  Copyright is based on state power
The genius hack: Use the copyright system against itself
- Copyright creates scarcity by denying rights
- Copyleft creates abundance by granting rights
Two main license types: GPL and BSD
- Though many licenses exist
  Since a license is a contract it's easy to invent a new license
  But it's rarely useful
- Lists of Free Software licenses by FSF and OSI
Main difference: May a licensee close sources again or not?
- BSD: Software may be distributed without sources
- GPL: Sources must be kept open
- More than 50% of Free Software projects use the GPL

Fundamental facility to embed Free Software in the law system

Inherits the security from the law system

Inherits the power of the law system

Mode of production of Free Software

This is a very important characteristic

Without money
Developers finance themselves by other means
Similar to other hobbies
Effort ist taken on a voluntary basis
- Necessity of concrete solutions to problems
- Selbstentfaltung of the developers
  Programming is fun (for some people)
  Other activities may serve the Selbstentfaltung also
Manifold self-organized in small, independent groups
International in the Internet

Often a high quality results

Quality is a direct result of the mode of production

Keyword: Selbstentfaltung

The notion plays an central role in Oekonux

More than self-realization
Self-realization focuses too much on the isolated individual
Selbstentfaltung understands humans as formed by their relations
Responsibility is part of Selbstentfaltung
Taking necessities into account belongs to responsibility
Responsibility needs to be recognized individually
Responsibility is learned and therefore coupled with the norms of the society
Selbstentfaltung is "autonomy-in-interdependence"
- Dependency is not reduction but extension of own possibilities
  Because others from whom I depend create possibilities by their actions I would not have if only by myself
Selbstentfaltung of the single person is direct precondition for the Selbstentfaltung of all
- And vice-versa
Potential for Selbstentfaltung is essential feature of humans
See critical psychology (Holzkamp)
- Content is different for every individual
  Particularly it's not necessarily political correct

In general Selbstentfaltung is a desirable goal

Simply and Doubly Free Software

Important distinction of concepts

Simply Free Software
- Freedom for users
- Standard rights of Free Software apply
- Commercial Free Software
  Ordered Software
Doubly Free Software
- Freedom for users and producers
- Producers are active on non-alienated basis
- No commercial Free Software

Special mode of production only for Doubly Free Software

Superior quality only for Doubly Free Software

There are mixed forms

Free Software and commercial influences

Companies engaging themselves
- Distributors and Linux-Companies (SuSE, RedHat, small ones, ...)
  Have an interest in the actual state, because they emerged from it
- Hardware and others (IBM, Sun, ...)
  Especially for hardware companies GNU/Linux is simply useful
  Because of this they have an interest in the actual state
Licenses prevent privatization
- Gnu General Public License (GPL)
- Other licenses
  These partially allow re-privatization (BSD)
Quality accrues from the absence of alienation
Only then creativity can fully unfold
Wage labor contradicts Selbstentfaltung
Is alienated because it is aimed at a third goal (making money)

Free Software can develop only without money

This ultimately prevents a drastic commercialization

Otherwise Free Software is destroyed

Perspectives of Free Software

Free Software is becoming more and more important
- GNU/Linux on the desktop, too
  On servers GNU/Linux is already widespread
  Public administrations are early adaptors
- GNU/Linux on embedded systems
- Tempestuous development
Dangers
- Software patents
  In Europe: Years of struggle with many people from the Free Software scene
More and more people are inspired by the idea
The principles of Free Software in other fields, too

Linux World Domination ;-)

Special features of Free Software

Things specific for Project Oekonux start here

Free Software is not a simple hobby

Has high societal usage
Direct competition with commodities
After a commodity market has been established
With big success
Very modern product
With very modern means of production
Develops international
Mainly written by professionals

Hobby, but in a new quality

Other hobbies don't combine all of these features

Free Software is not a commodity

Without exchange
Nothing must be exchanged
Exists in abundance
There is no scarcity beyond technical limitations
Open sources make secrets impossible
Cooperation instead of competition
Absolute quality claim
Result of the use-oriented way of production
For commodities it suffices if the buyer believes in quality relative to the competitors
Call to contribute (inclusion model)
With commodities only a small circle may contribute (exclusion model)

Free software is as worthless as the air to breathe

Only commodities may have an (exchange) value

The use value is independent of this

Free Software is not a gift

A gift is based on a personal relationship
May exist before and/or after a gift
- For most people Free Software is anonymous as a product can be
A gift often creates an obligation
- Taking Free Software creates no obligations
Producers of Free Software do not think in terms of gift
If at all then as a gift to mankind

Calling Free Software a gift is wrong

Keyword: Scarcity

Deposits
- Determined by nature and unchangeable
- Also products with respect to a certain point in time
Limitedness
- Portion of the deposits available to humans
- Is changeable by technical and other means
- May occur when need is bigger than offer
Scarcity
- Is determined by society and can be produced
  Mineral oil has not always been scarce
  Today for information commodities scarcity must be produced
- May occur when offer is bigger than need
  Yes, this is insane

Scarcity is not a law of nature

Keyword: Rivalness

Term to classify goods

Rival: If consumed by one not available for a second
- Example: Food
- Rival goods can be limited
- Abundance of a rival good makes rivalness less important
Non-rival: Each consumption is independent of each other
- Example: Information, sunlight
- Inherently not limited
- Scarcity must be imposed by external means
Anti-rival: The good is more useful if it is consumed by many
- Happens through network effects
- Example: Telephone
Markets of material goods are based on rival goods

Free Software is an anti-rival good

Keyword: Excludability

Term to classify goods

Excludable: Others can be excluded from using a good
- Matching legal concept: property
- Can be cast onto everything
- Can be hard to maintain though
  For instance: Information goods in Internet age
- Necessary to create scarcity
Non-excludable: Others can not be excluded from using it
- Anything which can not be private property?
- Non-excludable goods are often public goods
  For instance: Roads
Each market is based on excludable goods
Free Software made non-excludable by the license
- Chance of contributions rises when more people use it
- Regardless of how many "free ride"

GPL society: Extending principles of Free Software to rival goods while dropping exclusion

Cooperation in Free Projects

Informal
Roles suited to the project's need rather than a fixed set of roles
No formal qualification needed
Self-appointment as a general tendency
Official appointment as acknowledgment of a existing practice
No votes on people
Self-selected
According to individual liking
No appointed persons
No fixed boundaries
For instance: No clear division between producers and consumers
Voluntary
Variable over time
People come and go
Variable over intensity
People start and stop contributing as they like
Unequal
Everyone may contribute as s/he likes
Some have more influence than others
Different abilities are appreciated

Cooperation is voluntary, variable and unequal

Keyword: Maintainer model

Software development is most of all a social process

Maintainer model is a frequent way to organize

Here: Doubly Free Software projects

Voluntarism as fundamental pre-condition
- No alienated incentives
- Makes possible and requires personal decision
Self-organization as fundamental pre-condition
- Without external command or alienated goals
  Visible for instance in release dates
Maintainer keeps the project on course
- Makes binding decisions
- Supervises adherence to internal project standards
- If necessary cares for further development
- Organizes consensus ("Nobody needs to object")
  Not: Animosity
- Can not command other participants
Mutual dependence
Participants need the functions of the maintainer
Maintainer needs the participants
- On failure: Fork

Balances conflicts in Free Projects in an optimal way

Free Software = Selbstentfaltung + digital copy

Selbstentfaltung is the central motor for production
Digital copy as a means of production is
- Lossless
- Available to all by computers
- Possible about big distances (Internet)
- Universal for all (digital) information goods
  The content of the information good is not relevant for the copy operation
  Analog to electric motors of the industrial era

Possibility of digital copy is a new quality

Keyword: Internet

Digital copy on a planet-wide basis
Inherits the features of digital copy
Lifts space limitations of cooperation
- No limitation in size
- Globalized and across cultural boundaries
Lifts time limitations of cooperation
- No fixed time frames
- Makes possible real time as well as asynchronous processes
As a medium has little inherent limitations
- Makes topic oriented coppoeration possible
- New projects and forks are always possible
Combines individual use with common access
- Everyone can be active based on individual decision
  Also meaning: As producer or consumer
- Everyone has access

As a tool the Internet offers a lot new features

Free in the sense of Free Software

This freedom is indicated by the capital "F"

Absense of alienation
- Needs to result from the direct needs of those involved
- Self-organization
  Not organized by principles alienated from the project
- Voluntary participation
  Including voluntary taking over of responsibility
- Enables Selbstentfaltung
Freedom is result of the process
- Results are Free because of the process
  Can be used by anyone who needs them
  Implies that they are available without payment
- I.e. unlimited externally
Freedom is pre-condition of the process
- The process doesn't work without Freedom
  Freedom enables contributions from all sides
- I.e. unlimited internally
One's Freedom enables the Freedom of others
Instead of limiting it like in abstract freedom

Defines several positive feedback cycles

This is where the power comes from

Keyword: Germ form

Something structural new existing in the old
Not the new in a small version
Features of a contemporary emancipatory germ form
- Global networking
- Absence of exchange value and exchange
- Self-organization
- At the forefront of the development of productive forces
  Technical, but also social
- Makes Selbstentfaltung possible
  Also as part of the development of productive forces
Germ forms can be assessed only historically
However, one can try to recognize germ forms

Free Software has characteristics of a germ form

Keyword: Five-step

Germ forms develop in a five-step
Five-step is a general model for development
- Formation of the germ form
- Crisis of the old form
- Germ form becomes an important dimension of development in the old form
- Germ form becomes dominant
- Restructuring of the over all process
  All phases can take a long time

Free Software is in third step

Criticism: Germ form thesis

Exists inside and outside of the project

Free Software is useful for capital
Only for some sections; more important: useful for non-capital
Points beyond capital structurally nonetheless
Free Software is financed by the value system
Every germ form is in the beginning embedded in the old
Immaterial production is fundamentally different
Yes; important is what is dominant
Just nerds in patriarchal structures
After all nobody can exclude women formally
Interesting question: Why do women don't want to self-unfold in this Free Software?
Free Software works in a meritocratic way
There are no means of force in Free Software, so power has no substance
Assessment of the germ form questionable

Everyone may make up his/her mind

Germ forms and other models and ideas

Germ forms can be distinguished from other models and ideas

Dam building vs. ship building

Picture to make clear to distinct approaches to politics

Dam building
- Useful to dam against rising tide
- Goal: Defend the old
- Conservative approach
Ship building
- Useful to use the rising tide
- Goal: Journey to new shores
- Progressive approach
Building dams and building ships are totally different approaches
- But they can complement each other

Free Software is ship building

The way to the GPL society

The possibilities are outlined

GPL society means a formation of society, which is based on the principles of the development of Free Software

The utopia

Until now it can be imagines only in rough outlines

Means of production make Selbstentfaltung possible
- Useful: Maximum number of degrees of freedom
Useful activities are Selbstentfaltung
- Societal and individual utility is directly intertwined
  In part for this other means of work / machines are needed
- Automation makes necessary activities superfluous
Information and goods are Freely available
- Free availability is precondition of the process
  So everyone can use all means to self-unfold
- Free availability is result of the process
  Becaus of openness and inclusion model
- This is what the capital "F" means
Overcoming of the labor society
- No labor, no commodities
- No exchange, no money
- No alienation
The most important productive power is the human Selbstentfaltung

The freedom of the single becomes the precondition of the freedom of all

And vice versa

Free information goods

Which hints are there today?

Well-known ones
The idea to limit access to information is a historical relative new idea
- Science?
  Currently there are very different and contradictory developments
- Free cooking recipes
New ones
In the Internet a number of things developed
- Wikipedia
- Indymedia
- Wikis, Blogs
- Free music
  This does not mean copyright violation by P2P
- SETI@home (i.e. sharing of computer ressources)

The idea of Free information goods gets more and more friends

Keyword: Creative Commons

Four license building blocks
- Attribution (BY)
  Demands attribution of the source on copies
- Noncommercial (NC)
  Denies permission of commercial usage of the work
- No Derivative works (ND)
  Denies permission to derive works
- Share Alike (SA)
  Demands keeping the license on derived works
Copyleft equals SA+BY
Big, international movement with good "marketing" (http://creativecommons.org/)
- Adaption of license terms to national law systems
  3rd Oekonux conference: Presentation of the Austrian variant
- Many million of works under Creative Commons licenses already

Creative Commons further the transfer of the idea of Free Software

Transfers idea to arbitrary information goods

Probably no initiative which does this with more success

Free material goods

Concrete projects
Until now it is mainly a matter construction plans
- Free electronic and hardware projects
- Free car projects
In capitalism information is an important precondition for material production already
Material production becomes more and more an appendage of production of information
This is analogous to the fact, that today agricultural production is a appendage of industrial production

Information society creates a fundamentally new situation

GPL society brings meaning to the notion of information society

Keyword: Fabber / Rapid Prototyping

Rapid Prototyping is the more official term

Fabbers are universal fabrication machines
- Materialize three-dimensional things from digital data
- Typically by "baking" some amorphous, fine-grained material
  Allow for constructing things which are difficult to create otherwise
- Actually exist
  Today: Mostly used for building models
Fabbers have some interesting features
- Link digital data and material world closely
  Bringing the logic of digital data to the material world
- Universal for (parts of) material production
  Like computers for information: "One machine to rule them all"
- Allow material production for individual needs
Industrial robots are equally interesting

Fabbers transfer important aspects of the digital world to matter

Other successful Free Projects: Wikipedia

Web-based encyclopedia
- Transnational, multi-lingual endeavor
- Based on Wiki technology
Produces useful products
Is well-known for this reason
Grows fast
- Attracts "normal" people
- Attracts knowledgeable people
Free in the sense of (Doubly) Free Software
- Freedom is pre-condition and result of the process
- Voluntary participation
- Unlimited externally and internally
Challenge: Quality assurance
- Difference to Free Software: No "technical truth"
  Software runs or not
  An encyclopedia article always reflects an opinion
- Actions are on their way
  Result of those actions is of general interest

Wikipedia is a very interesting Free Project

Other successful Free Projects: Open Access

Free access to scientific information
- Growing movement in the scientific communities
  More and more acceptance in the scientific communities
- Based on Internet technology
- Aligns well with scientific tradition of open flow of thoughts
- Based on established methods of peer review
Produces useful products
At the forefront of the development of productive forces
Science is a pre-condition for production with ever increasing importance
Free in the sense of (Doubly) Free Software
- Freedom is pre-condition and result of the process
- Unlimited externally and internally
Challenge: Counter movement to lock away scientific information
E.g. patents

Open Access is a very interesting Free Project

Keyword: Automation

Today
- Destroys jobs
- Only capital is interested in automation
GPL society
- Extends possibilities of Selbstentfaltung
  By reduction of unpleasant activity
  By the creative process preceeding it
  By the empowerment of the users
- Everybody is interested in automation

Much more will be automated

Today automation is still impeded

Keyword: Need

Is neither good nor bad but requires satisfaction
Needs are determined by society
By fashions and (structural) coercion
So this is variable
Way of satisfaction is determined by society
The need for mobility does not not have to be satisfied by cars

Other societies - other needs

Criticism: GPL society

Some necessary activities will always be done only under (structural) coercion
Nevertheless: They need to be abolished
How to prevent e.g. ecological unsound Selbstentfaltung?
Don't know

Partially this can be decided only historically

Percpectives

The utopian toilet

By Annette Schlemm and others
Sketches the satisfaction of a human need ;-)
An excerpts follows
[See http://www.oekonux.org/texts/utoklo/ for translations]

Possible actions

About this we did not think very much until now

Support Free Software
- Use it yourself and recommend it to others
- Report bugs to the developers
- Write Free Software yourself
Use standards
Proprietary standards harm Free Software
Think further together
- Liberate yourself from the thinking categories of the labor society
- Project Oekonux (http://www.oekonux.org/)
Make available your products Freely
- Is easy for digital products
Start your own Free project

OEkoNux

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