Practical advantages: a political view

• A free software environment encourages:
  • cooperation between people
  • knowledge diffusion and mutual control
  • standards compliance and interoperability
  • shifting business model from license revenues to services, promoting human competence
• A free software environment discourages:
  • monopolies
  • provider lock-in
  • forced obsolescence, unorthodox practices
• Software is increasingly affecting our lives: the public should have control over it