Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!maytag!csg.uwaterloo.ca!giguere
From: giguere@csg.uwaterloo.ca (Eric Giguere)
Subject: Re: Selling of free software
Message-ID: <1990Aug13.045218.23092@maytag.waterloo.edu>
Sender: daemon@maytag.waterloo.edu (Admin)
Organization: Computer Systems Group, U of Waterloo
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed below are only the author's.
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 90 04:52:18 GMT
Lines: 56

In article <9861@galapas.ai.mit.edu> jla@galapas.ai.mit.edu (Joseph Arceneaux) writes:
>In article <7292@star.cs.vu.nl> ast@cs.vu.nl (Andy Tanenbaum) writes:
>>The GNU copyleft has a very serious problem of creating legal obligations
>>on the part of anyone using it.  I have very carefully avoided using any
>>GNU software in MINIX as well as in Amoeba, even though technically I might
>>have been willing.  Although the intention of copyleft may have been to
>>make sure the software was always available to the public, for me it has
>>had just the opposite effect.
>
>Since the effect of Copyleft is indeed to guarantee availability of
>the software, the only reason to avoid it is if you envision
>eventually restricting the software from the public.

Bingo!  Well, we might as well all bow our heads in shame... just think,
someday you or your employer might try to sell that software you've been
working you butt off on... Boy, I can just see it now:

"Jetson!  What's the hold-up on the widget project?"

"Well, Mr. Spacely, I'm afraid our lawyers have run into some trouble.  Seems
 that this whizz-bang compiler we've been using actually prevents us from
 selling the software we wrote..."

"What?!!  Who's the idiot who used the compiler?"

"Umm.... that would be me, Mr. Spacely... but before you fire me, I think
 I know a way out..."

"This better be good..."

"Well instead of selling the SOFTWARE, why don't we sell SUPPORT?  If we
 just make a few changes we can make the software useless without the support.
 Actually we may even come out ahead... just think, instead of selling
 software once we can charge exorbitant yearly fees for support!  What do
 you think...?"

"Jetson, you're a genius.  But don't tell anyone I said so, because I'll
 deny it.  Now stop grovelling and get back to your desk!"

  ----> Reality check:  Alright, perhaps I'm being a little sarcastic.  Listen,
        I don't have anything against the GNU project.  I admire their 
		dedication and the products they've come up with.  But the sad fact
		is that someday when I get a wife and kids I'll need money to feed
		them.  I make that money by writing software because it's something
		I enjoy doing.  My employer then sells that software to make the
		money that funds my paycheque.  It's your usual mercantile system.

The main point I want to make here is that in the Real World most software
companies exist to sell software, not give it away.  Because of this they
can't use any GNU software in their endeavours, no matter how better it is
than any other software.  So all you GNU supporters, please don't get
pissed off or turn self-righteous at the mere mention of making money off
of software.  Life's a bitch sometime.

--
Eric Giguere                                       giguere@csg.UWaterloo.CA
