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I'm sure you would agree that most open source software is written pro bono -- i.e. for the good of the public. And by pro bono, it also means you're not getting paid. No compensation at all.

That is not what drives this country, or this world. People exchange time for money at some rate. Then people exchange money for what they need.

Money does not always follow evil. Greed follows evil, and greed is not necessarily greed for money.

But what you're talking about with an organized world power is nonsense. Here's one quick question: how would you avoid corruption in this one organized world power for open source? You get a few people who suddenly realize how much power they have, and you have the foundation for corruption.

One thing you also need to bear in mind is the concept of sovereignty. As a sovereign developer, I decide what I want to develop on my free time. And under my sovereignty, enforced by the copyright laws of the US, I can also decide under what capacity someone else may use my software.

With licenses like the GPL and movements like the OSS initiative, that kind of sovereignty is clouded. Developers are sacrificing their own sovereignty to that of someone who created a cookie-cutter license.

With your unified OSS power, developers would be sacrificing their own sovereignty to a higher power. I'm sorry, but the only time I set my own sovereignty aside is when I'm at work, and that is because I trade my time for money.

That is how the world works. People trade. They trade time for money, money for necessities and luxeries. Or they trade a creation for money or something else, or something for something else. The world is all about give and take.

You seem to think that Linus Torvalds and the entire Linux project will end up in the hands of Microsoft, and I don't think that will happen. Of course you also seem to think that Microsoft will end up taking over the world, and I highly doubt that'll happen as well.

Stop throwing around conspiracy theories and start thinking with your brain. If Bill Gates wanted to rule the world, would he be stepping aside from Microsoft? I doubt it.

Instead it seems like you and a lot of the OSS backers up here are trying to push for your own emporer.

Well, I'm going to push for this: sovereignty for all developers to develop what they want and control how its used.

This means if you want to use the GPL, then go ahead. If you want to make up your own terms, then go head. If I don't want to distribute the source code, I should not be forced to do so. If I want to attempt to make money from my development efforts, I should have that right.

Plain and simple.
Posted by: ken_ballard@...   Posted on: 09/27/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Who needs to listen?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
Richard Stallman is one of the most inteligent people on the planet. Yes,  DonnieBoy | 09/27/06
Simply not true.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
Richard Stallman is looking out for our freedoms. He wants to make sure  DonnieBoy | 09/27/06
Sorry Stallman has an agenda which has nothing to do with freedom  maldain | 09/27/06
I agree, FORCING people to his  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
no force possible. Take GPL3 or leave it, just like Microsoft software  stevey_d | 09/27/06
There should not be any ambiguity  A.Sinic | 09/27/06
Richard Stallman's extremism is finally coming home to roost  A.Typical Zork | 09/27/06
Hear! Hear!  techboy_z | 09/27/06
That's a non-starter  NetArch. | 09/27/06
More to it...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
AMEN!  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
FSF rebuts anti-GPLv3 claims  Loverock Davidson | 09/27/06
The GPL is exactly why so many have contributed. The idea that others using  DonnieBoy | 09/27/06
FSF is right!  Linux Geek | 09/27/06
No, FSF is wrong!  techboy_z | 09/27/06
Proprietary drivers might be a good thing, but the DRM tricks so you can't  DonnieBoy | 09/27/06
But that should be a CHOICE  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
As you have said before..  Patrick Jones | 09/27/06
Correction...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
But I do agree on one point...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
How?  Patrick Jones | 09/27/06
The GPL2 was brilliant. If it was not for Richard Stallman, we would NOT be  DonnieBoy | 09/27/06
I see your problem...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
The GPL was never needed.  Resuna | 09/27/06
You're mistaken  stevey_d | 09/27/06
GPL2 is a brilliant peice of lawyering.  maldain | 09/27/06
Remember, with Micorosft's EULA, there are not open discussions, it is  DonnieBoy | 09/27/06
Trying to point to MS about a GPL problem is hilarious.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
For end users, the GPL3 is about 1000x better than the MS EULA.  DonnieBoy | 09/27/06
That is YOUR opinion and is NOT shared  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
The vast majority haven't heard of the GPL  stevey_d | 09/27/06
That may be true but GPL 2 is even better for the end user than GPL 3.  maldain | 09/27/06
Simple equation: ...  Vily Clay | 09/27/06
OK, step back from Mao's Little Red Book  maldain | 09/27/06
This is too complicated for your level, maldain. Grow up if you can. (NT)  Vily Clay | 09/27/06
Way to many drugs when you were younger.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/27/06
You're right  maldain | 09/27/06
2 MS pets ? maldain and No_Ax discuss human issues. It's funny. (NT)  Vily Clay | 09/27/06
Convicted MS pet No_Ax tries to match with people - no luck yet. (NT)  Vily Clay | 09/27/06
How about this?  ken_ballard@... | 09/27/06
At least you tried to think, ken_ballard@... .  Vily Clay | 09/27/06
Excuse me...  ken_ballard@... | 09/28/06
Keep trying, ken_ballard@...? it?s always good. But try harder ...  Vily Clay | 09/28/06
Re: Keep trying, ken_ballard@...? it?s always good. But try harder ...  ken_ballard@... | 09/29/06
You love false claims because you love fairy tales. Try reality.  Vily Clay | 09/30/06
Why not simply use a different license?  kraterz | 09/27/06
Yep he could make the Linus Licence  stevey_d | 09/27/06

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