I disagree. Stallman started in computers in an environment where all programmers swapped tapes with each other. If someone had a cool program, it would spread, others would tinker with it, and the results would come back to the original programmer, who could then use the improved program. It used the scientific model of shared information that has served us so well.
Stallman "started" the free software movement when proprietary software was born, and Stallman was suddenly told he couldn't share his work with others. That restriction pissed him off, so he started working on open versions of the now closed software, and promoting a return to the old days when software was free.
GE has it backwards. Open source software is not a new concept that "red-blooded Americans" have a problem understanding. Open source was the beginning -- it's closed source that is the newcomer.
GE, I promise not to call you ignorant anymore. Ignorance simply means not knowing, but you refuse to learn. I've always said there's a difference between ignorance and stupidity in that ignorance is easily curred with information, while stupid is permanent.
I always learned that Stallman was the prime mover in the OSS. But, we learn something new each day. ;)
More defense of Stallman. And of course, this statement is bogus, neither correct or provable.