Interesting case of "fail closed" error handling: "we can't find a contract, so we destroy". I guess their worst case scenarios weigh being sued much higher than losing some stuff they cannot replace (not this manual, but other cases, which might be one-off).

I do wonder what would have happened if some months later they do actually find a contract, maybe slid between a filing cabinet and a wall... Absence of evidence and evidence of absence, aye?

Also enjoy Stallman's title, President and Chief GNUisance, which he definitely tried very hard to live up to, with that reply. (And I won't fault him for that. :)