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Not true. You can pay from your pocket.
In fact, I'd much prefer it.

You wrote:
... we all should pay through the nose for commodity software.


That indelicate issue resolved, there are grounds for discussion of whether it's a good idea to start a free project whose stated intent is to replace proprietary software made by an independent software developer. (We'll stay away from Microsoft's baggage.)

Let's say you're an independent software developer who has created a specialized piece of software after years of work that is very useful in a specific industry. You're selling it for $100 per copy, a price cheap enough that it's cost effective for companies in the industry to buy your software rather than pay to develop it yourself.

You hear about someone beginning an open source project whose purpose is to duplicate your software's functionality, and make it available free.

How do you feel about that project? Pleased and flattered that what you had discovered was so important and useful that someone else thought it worthwhile to steal its value?
Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 04/07/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Another Freeloader  osreinstall | 04/06/05
Totally Wrong  opensourcepro | 04/07/05
He is asking for a free lunch  osreinstall | 04/07/05
Doesn't freedom just SUCK?  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
I reckon people will pay to see a certain feature in a free package  hipparchus2000 | 04/07/05
That's a great idea  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
Flippin' volunteer  Anton Philidor | 04/07/05
Sorry Anty, but I've placed myself in a career which won't be swallowed up  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
I see free/open source as an economic change  hipparchus2000 | 04/07/05
So you admit!  Martin Marvinski | 04/07/05
Now if..  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
Not true. You can pay from your pocket.  Anton Philidor | 04/07/05
It's called *LIFE* my poor Anty  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
Easy come, easy go.  Anton Philidor | 04/07/05
some negativism going on here  hipparchus2000 | 04/07/05
I appreciate your confidence in me...  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
You're SCARING me Anton  Jeff Spicoli | 04/08/05
Starting at shadows.  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
Anty, yoiu're being RIDICULOUS!  Jeff Spicoli | 04/08/05
You're right about one thing.  Anton Philidor | 04/09/05
Freedom is great but anarchy sucks!  osreinstall | 04/07/05
Well..  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
Isn't that the OSS business model  osreinstall | 04/07/05
If you only knew..  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
You are still not getting paid at what you love to do!  osreinstall | 04/07/05
Alas, that's the real world my friend  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
Ah, Now I see some issues  osreinstall | 04/08/05
no not 'liberating' this sounds like a euphamism for theft  hipparchus2000 | 04/07/05
Ownership means nothing to you?  osreinstall | 04/07/05
ownership means nothing?  hipparchus2000 | 04/08/05
You need a crash course in economics then extensive training  osreinstall | 04/08/05
you can't charge for water in a place where it rains all the time  hipparchus2000 | 04/08/05
Talk about distraction  osreinstall | 04/08/05
Ah, COBOL  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
how old am I?  hipparchus2000 | 04/08/05
I think you're combining ideas...  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
IE7 is copying tabs from Mozilla  hipparchus2000 | 04/08/05
Yes, Microsoft says they "innovate"...  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
real innovators - i agree  hipparchus2000 | 04/08/05
Why?  rapson | 04/07/05
Can't agree with Lessig about Flash ...  Joseph Friedman | 04/07/05
Flash needs to offer control to end users as well...  shawkins | 04/07/05
Flash can be controlled by endusers  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
Only if they use IE (I don't)  shawkins | 04/08/05

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