[Fsf-india] Re: [fsug-calicut] Re: Response to the e-mail to the Editor. Vivaravicharam

[Richard Stallman]

    Plus, it doesn't really make any sense to be picky about words.  On the one 
    hand, we talk about free software etc., on
    the other, we seem to imply that words or phrases are copyrighted.  

What people claimed is that words are associated with meanings.  They
certainly do have meanings, but that is completely different from
being "copyrighted" (which they are not).

The issue that was raised is about *which* meanings these terms are
associated with.  It is a meaningful issue.  However, given Ranjith's
message explaining that Gandhi did indeed (as I was told before) use
the term "Swadesh", I'm convinced it is not a mistake for us to make
an analogy with it.  The point is to show people how "Don't buy
software from the colonial powers (businesses, today)" resembles
"Don't buy cloth from the colonial power (Britain)".

It could still be the case that some other terms would be clearer.