From: Eugen Leitl (eugen@leitl.org)
Date: Thu Dec 19 2002 - 03:59:29 MST
On Wed, 18 Dec 2002, Lee Daniel Crocker wrote:
> Adobe Acrobat is not available as "free software" in the FSF sense,
Adobe Acrobat describes a number of data formats; some of them proprietary
(encrypted). While Elcomsoft has been found not guilty in the very recent
trial (we'll see how the Norwegian kid fares), Adobe is still very much
unrepentant.
While tools like xpdf (and pdftotext) can read some of Adobe Acrobat
formats, a much better solution would be to reject them on lack of
openness and because of commercial interests embroiled therein.
> it's only without cost to those customers who use an operating
> system that Adobe chooses to write for. True standard PDF files
> can be read by true free software that any user can compile from
> source on any operating system. If the files are really PDF, as I
> said, the complaint is withdrawn. As someone who has been free from
Not really.
> the Microsoft gravy train since 1996, I don't give a damn what
> features he's provided for obedient little Windows users.
Absolutely. (I have never been on that particular train, thankfully).
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