view etc/LPF @ 90195:a1b34dec1104

Revision: [e-mail]--gnu-2005/emacs--unicode--0--patch-63 Merge from emacs--cvs-trunk--0 Patches applied: * emacs--cvs-trunk--0 (patch 358-423) - Update from CVS - Remove "-face" suffix from widget faces - Remove "-face" suffix from custom faces - Remove "-face" suffix from change-log faces - Remove "-face" suffix from compilation faces - Remove "-face" suffix from diff-mode faces - lisp/longlines.el (longlines-visible-face): Face removed - Remove "-face" suffix from woman faces - Remove "-face" suffix from whitespace-highlight face - Remove "-face" suffix from ruler-mode faces - Remove "-face" suffix from show-paren faces - Remove "-face" suffix from log-view faces - Remove "-face" suffix from smerge faces - Remove "-face" suffix from show-tabs faces - Remove "-face" suffix from highlight-changes faces - Remove "-face" suffix from and downcase info faces - Remove "-face" suffix from pcvs faces - Update uses of renamed pcvs faces - Tweak ChangeLog - Remove "-face" suffix from strokes-char face - Remove "-face" suffix from compare-windows face - Remove "-face" suffix from calendar faces - Remove "-face" suffix from diary-button face - Remove "-face" suffix from testcover faces - Remove "-face" suffix from viper faces - Remove "-face" suffix from org faces - Remove "-face" suffix from sgml-namespace face - Remove "-face" suffix from table-cell face - Remove "-face" suffix from tex-mode faces - Remove "-face" suffix from texinfo-heading face - Remove "-face" suffix from flyspell faces - Remove "-face" suffix from gomoku faces - Remove "-face" suffix from mpuz faces - Merge from gnus--rel--5.10 - Remove "-face" suffix from Buffer-menu-buffer face - Remove "-face" suffix from antlr-mode faces - Remove "-face" suffix from ebrowse faces - Remove "-face" suffix from flymake faces - Remove "-face" suffix from idlwave faces - Remove "-face" suffix from sh-script faces - Remove "-face" suffix from vhdl-mode faces - Remove "-face" suffix from which-func face - Remove "-face" suffix from cperl-mode faces - Remove "-face" suffix from ld-script faces - Fix cperl-mode font-lock problem - Tweak which-func face * gnus--rel--5.10 (patch 80-82) - Merge from emacs--cvs-trunk--0 - Update from CVS

	   Protect Your Freedom to Write Programs
	   Join the League for Programming Freedom
	       (Version of February 3, 1994)

Ten years ago, programmers were allowed to write programs using all
the techniques they knew, and providing whatever features they felt
were useful.  This is no longer the case.  New monopolies, known as
software patents and interface copyrights, have taken away our freedom
of expression and our ability to do a good job.

"Look and feel" lawsuits attempt to monopolize well-known command
languages; some have succeeded.  Copyrights on command languages
enforce gratuitous incompatibility, close opportunities for
competition, and stifle incremental improvements.

Software patents are even more dangerous; they make every design
decision in the development of a program carry a risk of a lawsuit,
with draconian pretrial seizure.  It is difficult and expensive to
find out whether the techniques you consider using are patented; it is
impossible to find out whether they will be patented in the future.

The League for Programming Freedom is a grass-roots organization of
professors, students, businessmen, programmers and users dedicated to
bringing back the freedom to write programs.  The League is not
opposed to the legal system that Congress expressly established for
software--copyright on individual programs.  Our aim is to reverse the
recent changes that prevent programmers from doing their work.

The League works to abolish the new monopolies by publishing articles,
talking with public officials, denouncing egregious offenders, and
filing amicus curiae briefs, most notably against Lotus in its suit
against Borland.  We testified twice at the recent Patent Office
hearings on software patents.  We welcome suggestions for other
activities, as well as help in carrying them out.


(Added 2003) The League for Programming Freedom is inactive nowadays,
though its web site www.programming-freedom.org is still maintained.
It would be very useful to find a person who could take the initiative
to get the LPF operating again.  It will be a substantial job,
requiring persistence and working with a lawyer.  If you want to do
it, please write to [e-mail].