Re: [ox-en] New economic model for free technology?
- From: Stefan Merten <smerten oekonux.de>
- Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 17:45:42 +0200
Hi Karel!
6 days ago Karel Kulhavy wrote:
So I decided to change Ronja development so each time I develop some
module I will calculate the cost (work + material) and then publicize
that "I have this and this for so many money" and ask people to send
donations and when enough donations is received, release the item under
GPL (and not release it at all before collecting enough money).
To understand it fully: You develop something but don't release it
unless someone paid (enough) for it. Then you release it under GPL.
Right?
I remember a similar idea but forgot it's name. However, I think it
was different in that the work has not been done in advance or only
once to show the ability to create useful things.
I think Free Software would not have even started if developers would
have thought that way. They released what they created and created
besides their market compatible activity.
Your way of doing things is very similar to Free Software built for
money for a specific customer who doesn't care much about the license.
We call this software Simple Free Software in contrast to Double Free
Software where not only the user of the software is free but also the
creator.
When I think of an Oekonuxian perspective I find this a bad approach
because it reintroduces the alienation of the money system back into
Free Projects. It is the customer / boss who says what is good and
what not. At least for software if this would be the best way to do
things than M$ would need to have no fear of Free Software. In other
words: The quality of things produced without this type of alienation
is higher than with alienation.
The deeper reason is that if you create a good for nothing else than
its use value than you can create the very best thing thinkable. This
mode of production also attracts bright engineers because this is what
they want to do deep down in their hearts.
So to get back to your example allow me this question: When you
furthered the development of Ronja did you ever think of what could
bring in (more) money? If so were there a point where these thoughts
were more important than technical and useage considerations?
Mit Freien Grüßen
Stefan
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