Comments on: OpenSource: If you pay $15 http://almaer.com/blog/opensource-if-you-pay-15 blogging about life, the universe, and everything tech Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:08:49 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kevin Dangoor http://almaer.com/blog/opensource-if-you-pay-15/comment-page-1#comment-22450 Kevin Dangoor Wed, 13 Apr 2005 18:59:23 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog2/opensource-if-you-pay-15#comment-22450 I don't know what license PearPC is released under, but assuming PearPC is GPLed and that CherryOS is trying to fix their legal issues, they may release it under the GPL. If that's the case, the CherryOS folks are certainly free to charge $15 to download it, but everyone else in the world is free to toss it up on their own website if they wish. I don’t know what license PearPC is released under, but assuming PearPC is GPLed and that CherryOS is trying to fix their legal issues, they may release it under the GPL. If that’s the case, the CherryOS folks are certainly free to charge $15 to download it, but everyone else in the world is free to toss it up on their own website if they wish.

]]> By: Keith Lea http://almaer.com/blog/opensource-if-you-pay-15/comment-page-1#comment-22449 Keith Lea Wed, 13 Apr 2005 04:07:13 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog2/opensource-if-you-pay-15#comment-22449 Yes open-source and Free Software can certainly cost money. Most licenses only say that the source must be released with the binary releases. Yes open-source and Free Software can certainly cost money. Most licenses only say that the source must be released with the binary releases.

]]> By: Brian http://almaer.com/blog/opensource-if-you-pay-15/comment-page-1#comment-22448 Brian Tue, 12 Apr 2005 15:55:18 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog2/opensource-if-you-pay-15#comment-22448 I agree that this smells bad, but I don't think there's anything actually wrong with it. It reminds me of a company that will send you a CD for $.01 + $25 shipping and handling. I agree that this smells bad, but I don’t think there’s anything actually wrong with it. It reminds me of a company that will send you a CD for $.01 + $25 shipping and handling.

]]> By: Robert Watkins http://almaer.com/blog/opensource-if-you-pay-15/comment-page-1#comment-22447 Robert Watkins Tue, 12 Apr 2005 14:23:46 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog2/opensource-if-you-pay-15#comment-22447 It can be open source and cost money. This is even the case if it's GPL'd: you can decide to charge for the product, as long as you distribute the source as well. Furthermore, you can restrict distributing the source to those who have bought the product. A good working "minimal definition" of open source is: here's the code, you can tinker with it as much as you like, but you can't redistribute it. Once you start adding redistribution rights, you head towards free-as-in-speech software. However, if they choose the wrong license to release it under, they'll be hard pressed to stop someone paying for it, once, then offering it for free elsewhere. It can be open source and cost money. This is even the case if it’s GPL’d: you can decide to charge for the product, as long as you distribute the source as well. Furthermore, you can restrict distributing the source to those who have bought the product.

A good working “minimal definition” of open source is: here’s the code, you can tinker with it as much as you like, but you can’t redistribute it. Once you start adding redistribution rights, you head towards free-as-in-speech software.

However, if they choose the wrong license to release it under, they’ll be hard pressed to stop someone paying for it, once, then offering it for free elsewhere.

]]> By: javier http://almaer.com/blog/opensource-if-you-pay-15/comment-page-1#comment-22446 javier Tue, 12 Apr 2005 11:09:02 +0000 http://almaer.com/blog2/opensource-if-you-pay-15#comment-22446 well, open source and free software doesn't have the same meaning. well, open source and free software doesn’t have the same meaning.

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