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A comment on Liberating software - interview with Richard Stallman. Parent comment

Re:Liberating software - interview with Richard Stallman by paulhauggis on Saturday December 17, 2011 @02:55PM (#3364973)
"Why would you expect to do one thing once and then resource to virtually cost-free copying to get money from it? If people won't pay for it is because they feel is not worth to pay. Indeed if I can get something for free I'm not so much inclined to pay for it."

People won't pay for it because all of my hard work and updates are immediately shared, for free, by someone that bought it once (allowable by the GNU license). You aren't allowed to restrict the user in the form of a proprietary license.

"f you keep developing it and charge for access to a privileged access to updates, I'm sure you're sales will keep up. If you're updates are worth it, that is."

As long as you are using the GNU license, these changes can be shared for free.

This is why services are the way of the future. No piracy, updates are easy, and you also get to charge a monthly fee.

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Re:Liberating software - interview with Richard Stallman by skeptical on Saturday December 17, 2011 @03:10PM (#3365002)
Well, I don't know if you're aware of it, but you just repeated what I replied to you with a different phrasing.
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Re:Liberating software - interview with Richard Stallman by tensor on Saturday December 17, 2011 @08:07PM (#3365553)
A service is completely different. For one, you are not giving out any source code. If you do give out all your service source code under the GPL, you still have the same problem. If a single person buys it, they can then continually release a free version of it with the source provided.
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Re:Liberating software - interview with Richard Stallman by paulhauggis on Saturday December 17, 2011 @11:59PM (#3365981)
Only because you didn't seem to get my point the first time. Is it clear now?
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Re:Liberating software - interview with Richard Stallman by billpatrianakos on Saturday December 17, 2011 @05:34PM (#3365278)
This is so common but people who support the free software movement always make some excuse for why you're not making sales. People expect free software to not cost a dime. The entire foundation of the FSF is built upon the belief that we are all entitled to everything free and it's even in the license. I love when Stallman says you can make money with free software. Sure, it's technically possible but not feasible in the majority of cases. I feel for you, man. The lesson is that if you want to get paid don't use a free license. Go proprietary and no one will send hate mail.

I also think its crazy that people send you hate mail. That right there exemplifies the sense of entitlement they have. Don't get me wrong, I love free software, use it, and I release code occasionally but I'm not about to starve because Stallman says I have to choose either or. Free or proprietary, you must choose one is the message out of the RMS camp.

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