Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!maytag!looking!brad
From: brad@looking.on.ca (Brad Templeton)
Subject: Re: Feedback on Computer Crime
Organization: Looking Glass Software Ltd.
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 90 05:41:12 GMT
Message-ID: <1990Aug14.054112.4347@looking.on.ca>
References: <14443@wpi.wpi.edu> <9008081452.AA18175@stc06.CTD.ORNL.GOV> <N=259HB@xds8.ferranti.com>

I know of nobody who writes software other than for personal gain.  I know
many who write software and abjure direct *financial* gain, but there is
a big difference.

Richard Stallman writes software, and releases it under his very particular
terms in order to promote his particular political agenda.

Others have written free software for the satisfaction of having other
people make wide use of their code.  (I've done this myself)  Or for the
fame and respect that it brings.

Others have written software and given it away in the hope of earning
consulting contracts or other indirect financial gain from the fame the
free software brings.

Some write software and give it away because they can't think of anything
else to do with it.

By and large most writers of free software do it for personal gain.  You
just can't measure that gain in a bankbook most of the time.
-- 
Brad Templeton, ClariNet Communications Corp. -- Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473
