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I think you're combining ideas...
... that don't belong together.

If an author wishes to donate the work that he controls so that it may be used without payment, that's fine.

If an author is prevented from benefitting from his work because of a copy or imitation, then that's theft.


Also, please remember that a large part of an accomplishment in writing software is the basic idea of how to solve a problem. The code may be written in a number of different ways. A group of talented professionals willing to donate their time may eventually achieve something that works as well as and maybe even better than the original author's. But that's ultimately of less value than the idea. It's also useless for any other purpose than depriving the original author.

So I don't see any diminishment in the accomplishment from the fact someone else can replicate it. So what? An inventor has done his job, and has earned the reward.

You wrote:
If a business model of a bunch of professional coders selling a piece of software for a lot of money can't compete with a bunch of guys gifting collective work, then, I'm sorry, the business model is unworkable, and the professional coders should go find the money somewhere else.

Patents exist so that the inventor can't be deprived of his reward by interlopers. Patents are definitely part of a free, capitalist society.
Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 04/08/05 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

What do you think?

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