Ideals of free software and South Africa

First Monday has a really interesting set of papers up on open content and open access issues. One piece considers whether, and perhaps how, the idea of free software and free knowledge might align with the South African freedom charter, as opposed to “American libertarianism.” I think it’s important to recognize the distinctions between “free software” and “open access” or “creative commons” ideas, because they’re not identical, and this piece points out some of the reasons why the “free” language can be easily co-opted by dominant institutions.