It occurred to me that when we announce ease.js it would be a good occasion to post something about the importance of making JavaScript code free. —Richard Stallman
GNU ease.js is in a position to help the free software community by providing features under a copyleft license that encourages developers to release their own code under a compatible free software license. But not everyone may understand why this decision and the urging of free (as in freedom) JavaScript are so fundamentally vital to the future of a free and cooperative Internet accessible to all users, including users of free software.
We need your help to protect the fundamental freedoms of Internet users. This article is both a detailed description of the problem from the perspective of a user and an appeal to developers to develop free software for the Web; it is heavily influenced by Richard Stallman's article The JavaScript Trap—which you should also read—and has been written with his input. If you already write free JavaScript, then thank you.