Richard Stallman has clarified his earlier letter regarding MySQL.

"Richard Stallman, otherwise known as rms or the founder of the free software movement, will be in town for a series of lectures at UBC and BCIT. I have been reading Stallman’s stuff since I wrote my master’s thesis in 2003. Although sometimes passed off as a crank, much of Stallman’s work has proven accurate, insightful and even prescient over the years.

"Today I listened to Richard Stallman's lection which was recorded at Moscow State University..." -- Richard Stallman @ MIPT (Picture Reports) => http://ezheg.livejournal.com/30780.html ;)

Richard Stallman raised more than a few eyebrows when he signed the letter objecting to the MySQL purchase. Endorsing, or seeming to endorse, the practice of selling proprietary exceptions to GPL'ed software seemed entirely out of character with Stallman's comments on Free Software up to that point.

"In February of last year, Richard M. Stallman, founder and president of the Free Software Foundation, spoke at the International Conference on Communication and Technologies in Havana about what he strongly believes are the merits of non-proprietary software. I recently learned directly from Stallman what that experience was like.

Hello Friend I have a doubt about "How Did Richard Stallman React for the following??"

1. If you have send a mail to invite Richard Stallman for an International Conference in FreeSoftware and Free Society. My question is that your attached invitation card is made in MICROSOFT WORD ( .doc File) , How will he react????

"...today is Richard Stallman’s birthday. He is 54 years old. We’ve got cake AND cupcakes! Please enjoy them throughout the day. [...] We owe much thanks to RMS for his ideas and effort over the last 30 years. Software is powerful, software changes society and lives..."

A recent attack piece against Richard Stallman was written by Linus Torvalds on the eve of Obama’s election.

Black and white by Linus Torvalds

Linus begins with this:

An old video interview with Stallman reveals early expectations