Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2000 10:12:46 -0500 From: "Frank J. Zidar" <zidarf@zidar.com> To: "Peter Schwenk" <schwenk@math.udel.edu>, <advocacy@freebsd.org> Subject: RE: license (no longer Re: uptimes, Woo Hoo) Message-ID: <NCBBKJHGKKAODNDGGJIMGELOCEAA.zidarf@zidar.com> In-Reply-To: <3875F6CA.DBCAFA8B@math.udel.edu>
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I have often felt the same way you do. I see companies offering their stuff as open source as a "loss-leader" in order to simply create more customers using their software. Then they not only offer support contracts, but consulting services to develop applications for the platform. But not everybody is doing this or has software that fits into this type of category. I guess I'm just old school too, and like to be rewarded financially for my efforts. I also believe that I should pay for the work of another personal as well -- especially if I benefit from it. Which is why as soon as I start generating revenue from FreeBSD server installations, I will find some way to contribute back to the FreeBSD project. I don't think I'm good enough as a coder to contribute source, but I will at least send some cash. I love open source projects not because they are "free" -- well that helps -- but because they are being managed, built, tested, etc. by the people who really know what the hell they are doing instead of being pushed and pulled apart by a marketing department and salespeople like most large corporations. I believe that creates the best software for everyone to use as most have already seen. FreeBSD is a great piece of software, keep up the good work. -----Original Message----- From: owner-freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG [mailto:owner-freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG]On Behalf Of Peter Schwenk Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 9:23 AM To: advocacy@freebsd.org Subject: Re: license (no longer Re: uptimes, Woo Hoo) I guess I just don't understand why any software business would want to have anything to do with true Open Source software. Sure, you could charge for support and service, but, at least in the home/personal market, nobody likes to pay for that stuff. I can see corporate licensees buying support, however. True Open Source software seems to make it impossible to make big money, which companies like to do. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE free software. I use it all the time. I just don't see how ALL software can be free and we can still have a software industry. I'm a dope, I guess. Michael Lucas wrote: > >From a business standpoint, yes, the BSDL is delightful. "Here, have > this, it's free, do whatever you want with it." What business > wouldn't like that? > > But what do *we* get out of it? Simply the satisfaction of knowing > your work is in a photocopier's brain? > > ==ml > > > It appears to me, at least from a business standpoint, that the BSDL is the > > free-est of all in that all it requires of the licensee is recognition of the > > source of the work. I think that's why Apple's used it for it's upcoming Mac OS > > X. They can use the FreeBSD source and still not be required to ship source with > > their product. That way they can keep whatever fancy stuff they've done to it > > private and keep a competitive advantage. Not very cool from a GPL, Open Source > > standpoint, but I'm sure Apple likes it. I thought I heard a rumor that Apple has > > contributed some source back to the FreeBSD project, but that's just hearsay. > > > > Michael Lucas wrote: > > > > > So, is there any highfalutin' purpose behind the BSDL? Or is it as > > > nonpolitical as it appears to be? Having had this argument many > > > times, I'd like something better than "we don't care"; from an > > > advocacy point of view, that never comes across well. -- PETER SCHWENK | UNIX System Administrator Department of Mathematical Sciences | University of Delaware schwenk@math.udel.edu | (302)831-0437 <-NEW!!! To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-advocacy" in the body of the message To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-advocacy" in the body of the message
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