Well, let's be honest with ourselves. If they won't be free from the original source, they will eventually be free from other sources. The important thing is that the material will exist and it will be available for anyone to learn from.
That said, I really doubt that these classes will remain free. (Especially with likes of Hardvard and MIT.)
I thought the model was that the content would be free, but the certification would involve a fee that won't require a student loan. Sign me up.
Sounds like a wonderful opportunity for someone to offer cheaper third-party certification.