[mdlug] An Idea inspired by....

[Robert Adkins]

bob dion wrote:
>
> There is nothing in the GPL or from RMS that say you can not make money 
> from Free software.
>
>   
    Of course not, the GPL is designed to foster a support system.

    Not everyone is interested in that model. Certain software 
applications don't necessarily support that model very well either. 
Although, I suppose software could be written to be purposefully cryptic 
so as to demand support needs from the majority of users. I wonder how 
that would affect the Software Entertainment industry.

    Do you believe that the next "Quake" would keep Id in business if 
they released the whole game as F/OSS and offered "support" contracts? 
If they did that, do you think they would continue to make the game as 
easily playable as it is today?

> If you feel you need to take a passive stance in protecting your 
> freedoms as a consumer so be it. DRM is already becoming pervasive in 
> the Consumer Electronics space as we speak.
>   
    I agree with DRM, up to the point that it infringes upon my already 
existing rights.

    There won't be any problems with me copying or printing my own 
images, even though it would be nice to force people to have to buy my 
images to print them, (that's just a highly unrealistic expectation) the 
best I can do is keep the samples small enough that they simply wouldn't 
print nicely for most home users.

> I find it rather interesting though that there are always posts stating 
> how 'Windows works better for me' any time someone asks for help in 
> promoting the use of Linux. The is a LUG mailing list after all.
>
>   
    I only chimed in because, in some areas, no matter how much someone 
wishes otherwise, F/OSS just isn't there. So, having absolutely no 
choice about which platform to use would restrict one's freedom to do 
what they need get done.

    -Rob