Re:The Ethics of Unpaid Labor and the OSS Community (2013)
by forgottenpass on Wednesday March 18, 2015 @03:33PM
(#9228116)
The term "unpaid labor" has a specific connotation akin to slavery or indentured servitude. The two are not comparable.
Is this a legal term of art or common knowledge definition? It was unknown to me so I've tried some googling and am turning up primarily volunteer work and unpaid internships under that title. I know wikipedia isn't the greatest source, but over there "unpaid work" is a class of things including both slavery and working at a family business or coop.
Re:The Ethics of Unpaid Labor and the OSS Community (2013)
by dreamdu5t on Wednesday March 18, 2015 @03:28PM
(#9228080)
Yes, I should have been more clear: The idea that contributing to OSS is A Good Thing is dogma. It is a vehicle for companies to profit from work they don't have to pay for.
It has nothing to do with whatever political axe you have to grind.
OSS is freely given, sometimes by people who are paid to do exactly that. The term "unpaid labor" has a specific connotation akin to slavery or indentured servitude. The two are not comparable.
Complaining that someone somewhere makes money (at best, indirectly) from an OSS contribution is the same as complaining that Good Will resold my donation at a profit.