On Saturday 21 July 2001 00:17, Linuxers wrote:
----- Original Message ----- From: "Aarjav Trivedi" aarjavt@yahoo.com
Exactly my thoughts just one question What is the middle path ? or if that is too big which i think it is Name some companies which follow it.
The real issue is not the amount of money or profit you make but wether you encroach upon others rights. Do not encroach on others rights and make all the money you would ever want.
There is no middle path. If you agree with the fact that IP should be unencumbered then it would be unethical for you to encumber your IP which in any case is built on the knowledge of many others.
What would you define as personal. If I use your product in my office (i do not sell your product to anybody) for improving my GNU Billbasher and sell it, is it commercial, and how would you cost your contribution. Remeber it was my Billbasher and my effort in improving it. And my friend loves your stuff as he can bash MTNL/MSEB/the-guy-next-door and takes a free copy from me. Now what?. Trying to build a business on restrictions is not workable.
I think Kishor has answered the question acceptably. It's one option. I don't know what companies follow a "middle path" and what exactly that is. I would like to know, because I don't see business models in the open source/free software world being as money-making as commercial software businesses.
You would require heavy capital investment or be a niche player. Use capital to build your brand image. If you brand it well the "ignorant" majority will buy your GNU Excel. Or produce niche products. Eg. couple hardware and software. The user could write his own software and engineer his own hardware, but it would be such a economic pain that he would choose not to. Of course other technically capable guys would copy it. But you will not be sleeping (like premier automobiles) while others are copying it. You will be converting and upgrading your product to GNU-Net-slasher. And if the competition is improving it you will benefit since it is gpld. If the competition does not publish their derivate works as per the gpl, wait until they have made money, then sue the pants off them and live happily ever after in Hawaii.