Post AoGxWuPMRQfDPuucXA by jehb@mastodon.social
 (DIR) More posts by jehb@mastodon.social
 (DIR) Post #AoGr2JqFELmLb0W8Tw by kyle@mastodon.kylerank.in
       2024-11-21T14:57:23Z
       
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       Open hardware company Prusa is now reacting to the same commercial challenges open software companies have been struggling with for ages: what do you do when a competitor legally uses your work, but undercuts you on price?In Prusa's case, the solution was to close up the hardware. While disappointing, I'm sure it was a really tough decision and it's more honest than some of the legal acrobatics from open core companies.https://hackaday.com/2024/11/20/with-core-one-prusas-open-source-hardware-dream-quietly-dies/#openhardware #3dprinting #prusa #foss
       
 (DIR) Post #AoGsMQqczW4J4SqpO4 by hughrawlinson@mastodon.xyz
       2024-11-21T15:12:07Z
       
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       @kyle They already tried competing on support and quality - and that worked well for a particular segment of the market. I guess they've decided they need to go after the complement of that segment too - and decided that this approach suited them better than reducing prices. I wonder what growth model they're pursuing though - do they, like some software companies, aspire to "take over the universe", or are they content running a successful business?
       
 (DIR) Post #AoGxWuPMRQfDPuucXA by jehb@mastodon.social
       2024-11-21T16:09:35Z
       
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       @kyle I hope they take into consideration the customer base they will lose because of this.I own a Prusa printer, and will continue to use it, but I will not be purchasing any future devices which are not open hardware.I understand where they're coming from. But I'd rather have to build a community-designed open device from scratch than buy a closed one."How do I monetize this if people undercut my prices?" might be a real problem, but it's not my problem as a user.
       
 (DIR) Post #AoH5c2Dbd4VkioMwoC by souldessin@noauthority.social
       2024-11-21T17:40:43Z
       
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       @kyle I think there's a value in having open source, but there's also a value in having a license on it that lets you turn around and say, no, stop doing this for profit without my approval.I think Futo is doing this really well. While they do charge for their stuff, they're not chasing people down for payment, and it gives them the ability to say no illegitimate copies. It's all open source, too.
       
 (DIR) Post #AoHHILDIUmDZIAbITw by tomnardi@hackaday.social
       2024-11-21T19:51:37Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @kyle Well, that's the official line at least. But as I mention in the article, I don't believe they've successfully made that case.The machines that could have conceivably "copied" their open designs were the cheap i3 clones of years past, which didn't prevent Prusa from dominating the high-end market and having their most profitable years.But the modern competition is unlike any open printer Prusa ever made. They didn't need to copy Prusa when they already had the more advanced design.