GPLv3 - Update was: Re: [LINK] the slow motion gpl trainwreck

[Craig Sanders]

On Thu, Jul 27, 2006 at 11:31:06AM +1000, Deus Ex Machina wrote:
> I am not sure how any of your response addresses the point that on a
> commercial basis, giving away software to drive other sales works in a
> domestic market.
>
> given the constant bleeting about the revenue forgone in giving away
> software can be made up by support, I dont see a single example of
> that in the gaming market or any other domestic software market for
> that matter.
>
> perhaps you can give us some example of commercially sucessful
> projects that make up lost revenue from giving away software, with
> support or some other service in a domestic context?

take off your blinkers Vic - going after a commercial market is NOT the
only reason why people write and give away free software. it's not even
one of the more important reasons, it's way down low on the list of
motivations.

this may seem like blasphemy to someone of your mammon-worshipping
religion, but not everything can be reduced to a market.

the fact is that financial success is *IRRELEVANT* to the success
of free software. people will write it, distribute it, and use it
regardless of whether someone makes money from it or not.

that is why, in the long run, commercial software can not compete with
free software. free software will evolve to meet the needs of the
users and authors without regard to financial considerations, while
commercial software will not and can not - in some cases, the financial
considerations are in direct opposition to the users' needs (e.g.
marketing deals and partnerships between the software developers and
other companies and/or other depts within the same company resulting in
the prevention or obstruction of inter-operation with rival products).


if there's any constant bleating being done, it's you and your obsession
with markets.


craig

-- 
craig sanders <cas at taz.net.au>           (part time cyborg)