Comments on: Freeloaders Beware http://truthhappens.redhatmagazine.com/2007/11/21/freeloaders-beware/ Truth happens Mon, 8 Sep 2008 08:32:47 +0000 http://lyceum.ibiblio.org/?v=1.0.2 by: Jesse Thompson http://truthhappens.redhatmagazine.com/2007/11/21/freeloaders-beware/#comment-37416 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:34:40 +0000 http://truthhappens.redhatmagazine.com/2007/11/21/freeloaders-beware/#comment-37416 I think this article is sorely mistitled! It says "Freeloaders Beware". Free Software advocates are accustomed to being called names like this (we use and advocate software we and others don't have to pay money for), so we initially mistakenly think this headline is warning *us* to beware. It turns out that's just not the headline's intent. When they say "freeloaders" they mean COMMERCIAL interests who wish to exploit OUR software development efforts without playing by our rules of open source availability. Whew! Someone ELSE is being called a freeloader! And it's US they must beware! I can dig that. :) I think this article is sorely mistitled!

It says “Freeloaders Beware”. Free Software advocates are accustomed to being called names like this (we use and advocate software we and others don’t have to pay money for), so we initially mistakenly think this headline is warning *us* to beware.

It turns out that’s just not the headline’s intent. When they say “freeloaders” they mean COMMERCIAL interests who wish to exploit OUR software development efforts without playing by our rules of open source availability.

Whew! Someone ELSE is being called a freeloader! And it’s US they must beware! I can dig that. :)

]]> by: T. Colin Dodd http://truthhappens.redhatmagazine.com/2007/11/21/freeloaders-beware/#comment-36280 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:49:53 +0000 http://truthhappens.redhatmagazine.com/2007/11/21/freeloaders-beware/#comment-36280 It's only ironic if you believe that open source companies don't respect intellectual property laws. When there are abuses, or copyright laws are used for other purposes (such as quashing dissent in Russia), expect this blog to raise a stink. If it doesn't encourage the growth of the arts and sciences, expect us to say so. But when someone benefits from the open source model, and then fails to pass their innovations on, they get what they deserve. Rules are rules. It’s only ironic if you believe that open source companies don’t respect intellectual property laws.

When there are abuses, or copyright laws are used for other purposes (such as quashing dissent in Russia), expect this blog to raise a stink. If it doesn’t encourage the growth of the arts and sciences, expect us to say so.

But when someone benefits from the open source model, and then fails to pass their innovations on, they get what they deserve.

Rules are rules.

]]> by: Noah Clements http://truthhappens.redhatmagazine.com/2007/11/21/freeloaders-beware/#comment-35960 Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:52:17 +0000 http://truthhappens.redhatmagazine.com/2007/11/21/freeloaders-beware/#comment-35960 It is quite ironic that you highlight both the BSA and the SFLC actions at the same time. Filing suit right before Thanksgiving is classic jerk litigation, and if the High-Gain CEO is to be believed, unnecessary. It sounds like both organizations are bullying small businesses, who are ill-equipped to deal with the threat of scorched-earth litigation. It is quite ironic that you highlight both the BSA and the SFLC actions at the same time. Filing suit right before Thanksgiving is classic jerk litigation, and if the High-Gain CEO is to be believed, unnecessary. It sounds like both organizations are bullying small businesses, who are ill-equipped to deal with the threat of scorched-earth litigation.

]]> by: Steve Rush http://truthhappens.redhatmagazine.com/2007/11/21/freeloaders-beware/#comment-35440 Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:06:04 +0000 http://truthhappens.redhatmagazine.com/2007/11/21/freeloaders-beware/#comment-35440 My thumb's up. The GPL doesn't mean anything if nobody defends it. It's not as if compliance were expensive. You just have to let your customers know that they can get a copy of the source from, for example, your Web site. My thumb’s up. The GPL doesn’t mean anything if nobody defends it. It’s not as if compliance were expensive. You just have to let your customers know that they can get a copy of the source from, for example, your Web site.

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