🚀 go-pugleaf

barmar@think.com (Barry Margolin) writes:
> Think of it as a customer service option.  Some customers want the vendor
> to hold their hand and provide upgrades and enhancements.  Others need the
> freedom to customize and fix problems themselves because they can't be
> assured that the vendor will provide those changes.
> 
> Just licensing source code at a reasonable price actually serves that
> purpose.  However, the users should be able to share their fixes and
> enhancements as well, so that each customer that can't wait for the new
> release isn't forced to implement fixes themselves.  In other words, the
> vendors shouldn't have the monopoly on software support.

This is exactly the situation with MINIX, which is commercial (not freely
redistributable) software.  That is, anyone can implement fixes and distribute
them.

So I fail to see why not giving vendors a monopoly (which I agree is a
good idea) requires GNU-like distribution.

> >> In particular, when evaluating workstations, most customers' criteria
> >> include performance rather than available free software.
> >
> >Which presumably means that people don't want free software.  Or am I missin
> >something?
> 
> No, it means that people want fast machines more than they want free
> software.

So educate them to want free software more.  Or admit that it just isn't
important to them.

>                    The inventor of the GPL doesn't believe in artificial
> restraints on the use and distribution of intangible entities such as
> software.  If I know that some people would like to have a version of MS
> Word with some whizbang feature, and Microsoft isn't interested in
> implementing that feature, I should be able to do it and share it.

Fine.  That doesn't mean MS Word needs to be freely redistributable, though.
So it isn't an argument in favour of the GPL.

> One of the purposes of our form of government is protection of the rights
> of minorities.  And hackers believe that they should have the right to
> tinker with the software they purchase, and show off and share their
> results.

Fine again.  That's why hackers like MINIX.  It still doesn't necessitate
GPL-like restrictions on software, though.


mathew

-- 
Another would-be Mac owner put off by Apple's monopolistic practices.