Free Software Day Around The World 210
depechemodem writes "In a follow-up to Microsoft Leaves U.N. Standards Group, it appears that it may have been in reaction to the UN's sponsorship of the 1st annual Software Freedom Day in which its International Open Source Network (IOSN) will educate Asian users on the benefits
of Free and Open source Software (FOSS). FOSS promotes several high-profile applications including OpenOffice, Mozilla, MySQL, and Apache." An anonymous reader says of the U.N. effort, "Events will be organised in Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam on Saturday, August 28th." According to another anonymous reader, "Go Open Source, funded by the Shuttleworth Foundation and HP, expects up to 10,000 visitors at the various Linux install-fests around South Africa this Saturday, says the Mail & Guardian."
Everybody sing along now! (Score:5, Funny)
You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.
x2
Hoarders may get piles of money,
That is true, hackers, that is true.
But they cannot help their neighbors;
That's not good, hackers, that's not good.
When we have enough free software
At our call, hackers, at our call,
We'll throw out those dirty licenses
Ever more, hackers, ever more.
Join us now and share the software;
You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.
x2
Re:Everybody sing along now! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Everybody sing along now! (Score:3, Funny)
Or maybe it's just because he's so damn sexy.
Not just UN but Novell also puts event (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Everybody sing along now! (Score:2, Informative)
The Free software song on the GNU website [gnu.org].
The sheet music [gnu.org].
[Un]fortunately you can also actually listen to RMS singing it. You can find that on the web page I've linked.
Tradition (Score:4, Interesting)
1st annual software Freedom Day
It might end up being a total flop, and not be bothered with again.
(I do of course hope its a success)
Next year I would be willing to consider it the 2nd Annual software freedom day, but lets get past the first one ummmmm first.
Its just one example of illogical phrases.
Re:Tradition (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Tradition (Score:3, Funny)
I hereby declare today to be the 0th annual Naked At Work Day!
or ...
I hereby declare today to be the 0th annual Geeks Get All The Chicks Day!
or ...
I hereby declare today to be the 0th annual World Peace And Perfect Harmony Day!
Wow, this is fun!
Re:Tradition (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Tradition (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Tradition (Score:2, Interesting)
The response in some areas of the world has been far better than we'd hoped for, in others it's been decidedly lukewarm, but we now know better what to expect next time.
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
What's wrong with "first and only"? (Score:2)
Free World (Score:5, Insightful)
What would happen if other things in the world were free? What if budding designers and contractors demostrated their skills by building free pubic buildings?
Musicians and artists already use the free model to start their careers.
AC
Re:Free World (Score:5, Funny)
i'd be drunk 24/7
Re:Free World (Score:4, Funny)
In other words, nothing would change?
Re:Free World (Score:2, Funny)
Well, he could finally afford Heineken...
Re:Free World (Score:2, Funny)
Listen, I NEVER pay for pubic building! Right?
Re:Free World (Score:3, Insightful)
While it would be nice. I think that if you look ust a tiny bit past the surface you will see that the monetary cost of a building is huge while the monetar cost of a software project is the cost of th e computer.
Re:Free World (Score:1)
Hm, did this sound too much like a Star Trek episode?
Re:Free World (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Free World (Score:2)
Re:Free World (Score:3, Insightful)
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing agains open source. I have contributed to several projects both on my own time and while getting paid (permission from employer). What I don't like is to be forced into giving my work away for free.
Ideas are cheap to duplicate, but expensive to invent (cost of doing research vs. buying a book).
Re:Free World (Score:5, Interesting)
Nobody is forcing you to do anything. If there was force involved in "Free Software", then it wouldn't be "Free", it'd be "Enforced" software.
What you should be saying is, "I don't like being forced to pay out the nose for software that should be free", such as the operating system, without which your hardware is essentially useless. When you buy hardware, it does nothing until you've "bought" software to make it run.
Ideas are cheap to duplicate, but expensive to invent (cost of doing research vs. buying a book).
This is not an absolute. Some idea's are extremely cheap, some are very difficult (and thus costly) to realize. In the end, though, software idea's don't go anywhere without the hardware
Software is easy to produce. Compare what it takes to write software with what it takes to fabricate silicon. This comparison cannot be made without the conclusion that software is *always* going to be cheaper than hardware. It is simply a natural law, alongside the other 'obvious' natural law that states that software is useless without something to run it on.
Free software is an attempt to embrace that natural law. $oftware which co$ts is an attempt to refute it
Re:Free World (Score:2, Insightful)
Gee, isn't that like saying gas should be free since my SUV is useless without it? Or the electricity to make my computer run? Or nails for my hammer?
This has got to be the worst arguament I've ever seen for "free" software...
Re:Free World (Score:3, Interesting)
Yeah, okay, it'd be a 'fine argument' to compare computers+software with blade+razor (though it seems you're not even thinking about it, you're just arguing) were it not for the fact that, computers and software are -essential- to each other in a profoundly different way than razors, or gas and stoves, in that they represent an infinite-resource machine.
An essence exists in the relationship which factually pr
Re:Free World (Score:3, Interesting)
Someone 'does have to' write software, it doesn't write itself. But you can write software for fun, for the love of it, and exclusively for the use you will get out of the hardware. It shouldn't be that the only thing you can do with computers, specific hardware, is dictated to you by an economically-ensconc
Re:Free World (Score:3, Interesting)
Why yes I am. [slashdot.org]
I suggest you read the whole thread before you break out your insult toy.
Actually, I am intimately familiar with software development, having been a professional coder for 22 years. I know how easy it is to write good code that distributes well. Quite.
Once the boards have been designed and the fabs built, it is very "easy" to fabricate silicon.
So
Re:Free World (Score:5, Funny)
What, like short dark and curly houses?
Re:Free World (Score:3, Funny)
I'm, a natural blonde, you know...
Re:Free World (Score:2)
Re:Free World (Score:3, Interesting)
What would happen if other things in the world were free? What if budding designers and contractors demostrated their skills by building free pubic buildings?
Free as in beer would be kinda strange and other posters have addressed that weirdness. Free as in speech is common place in construction. You have to apply for planning permission which requires submitting the plans to local government. Anyone can request a plan at a small fee. I don't know about you but I think that's quite a free system!
Artist
Re:Free World (Score:2)
Just the fact that he did it was news, and would attract a lot of people. If I tried it, I'd probably get paid once... perhaps from my Mom... no matter how good it was.
Word of Mouth isn't quite that powerful... yet!
I don't think there will be free buildings (Score:4, Insightful)
Perhaps I misunderstand, but my impression was that one of the main points behind the whole free (speech) software movement is that most other forms of information already are free.
That is to say: Software is in quite an unusual situation, because the machine instructions are not nearly as useful as the source code from which they were derived. This is not the same as something like a book or a song, because even though there may be copyright restrictions on the distribution, those who do get it can still see and manipulate the actual building blocks of the information once they have it... at the very least for their own personal use.
What the GPL and "free" software movement does among other things is to make sure that if someone distributes the software, then they must distribute the source version at the very least, to ensure that the person getting it has all the same rights and abilities that they would normally have with other types of information.
An architect or builder probably won't build a free building as you've suggested, because a building isn't information in the traditional sense. (At least if they do, we're talking about something on a fundamentally different level.) But if an architect were to design plans for a building and sell them to a developer, the developer would naturally be able to adjust and perhaps continue re-distribute those plans... at which point whoever gets them can continue to do the same. Something like this isn't automatically possible with software, because it can be distributed in a form that can be used but not easily changed.
Similarly, some artists are giving their work away under a variety of free licenses, but those licenses aren't revolutionary to art in the same way that the GPL is revolutionary to software... (although perhaps they are in other ways). With or without those licenses, it's still naturally possible (legal or not) to obtain a song or an artwork, and derive something else from it. This is not so easy with closed source software.
I think the difference is that software information is directly used by computers whereas other blocks of information (at least those that are normally associated with distribution and trading) are directly used by people. You have to understand the words in a book to make use of it, but you don't have to understand the machine instructions in a software application... so the readable edition can be held back. Many software developers/businesses take advantage of the extra control-by-obscurity over the information that this technicality gives them. If we all had logic brains and could easily understand and manipulate the compiled software that was bought off the shelves, it wouldn't be as much of an issue. Among other things, the GPL attempts to remove that technicality and make software like most other types of information.
I'm not exactly a strong advocate of free software besides using it for most things. If anyone thinks I've missed something important, please elaborate.
You've missed my point (Score:2)
I think you've missed my point, which was that a builder (or anyone else) still can understand the plans and change them simply by having the plans, even if copyright put limitations on whether they're allowed to do so legally. ie. They're not usable in any type of encrypted state. If plans were somehow distributed in a machine-only readable format, it could be different. Copyright might prevent this, just as it usually prevents re-performing of songs and re-publishing of books.
The GPL goes further
Re:Free World (Score:2)
What if budding designers and contractors demostrated their skills by building free pubic buildings?
I volunteer for anything if these pubic buildings are going to be in the female form.
On second thoughts though,change it to almost anything.
Re:Free World (Score:2, Insightful)
Not "what if", but "when" (Score:2)
With artificial intelligence and nanotechnology, we will arrive to that point sometime in this century. We just cannot imagine what the consequences will be, but expect a lot of teeth-gnashing. Imagine a world where you have everything you need, but everything you have is worth nothing. OK, I suppose some things may still have value, such as some metals and real estate. But it's interesting that few writers have even tried to imagine what kind of so
Re:Free World (Score:2, Insightful)
Number 4 in my project queue of things is something I want to make for the Mozilla Calendar project. It's going to cost some of my time to build, but I'm glad to give something back. I am expecting $0 return on it. This thing can be replicated millions of times because there is no financial risk in the replication. Each copy of a building requires labour, wher
Embrace don't Destroy (Score:4, Insightful)
Just more proof that if you don't adapt you die.
(PS: First Post)
Re:Embrace don't Destroy (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Embrace don't Destroy (Score:3, Interesting)
Secondly, I think companies are fed up with more than just Microsoft's prices. A quick perusal of past
Thirdly, this whole issue about claiming
Re:Embrace don't Destroy (Score:3, Insightful)
I think something that most slashdotters fail to fully comprehend is: In most of the developing world, all software is (nearly) free-as-in-beer, because piracy is so rampant, and there is little interest at the government level to do anything about it.
If you want a copy of Windows 2K with a nice photocopy of the activation key, head down
Re:Embrace don't Destroy (Score:2)
Saying MS is like
Around the world? (Score:3, Informative)
When will anyone at slashdot start to check even the most basic stuff?!
Re:Around the world? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Around the world? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Around the world? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Around the world? (Score:2)
Egypt is on that list, and I know we're not doing anything around here.
Simply listing someone's name of a wiki does not mean that a software freedom day is happening there.
Re:Around the world? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Around the world? (Score:2)
We had a fork in the LUG a few months back because it wasn't being run democratically and it had turned into a stagnant online forum.
We the forkers are here [eglug.org].
Check out our charter, you can tell by it what we wanted to change and by extension why we forked. Oh, and it's going beautifully now.
Re:Around the world? (Score:2)
Re:Around the world? (Score:2)
Please, the UN is not organizing this. Get the word out or there will be hell to pay for the next few days at the IOSN.
Re:Around the world? (Score:2)
I believe the same is true of New Zealand!
Three continents too few for you?
The main site is ... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:The main site is ... (Score:4, Informative)
Developing nations. (Score:1, Funny)
I think it's a good thing that they are focusing on poverty-stricken developing nations where computers are rare... like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and New Zealand.
Indonesia Goes Open Source Award (Score:4, Interesting)
there will be an Indonesia Goes Open Source Award (IGOS [igos.web.id]) 2004.
-- budi
Re:Indonesia Goes Open Source Award (Score:2)
Do you count dates differently in Indonesia? Is it because you are closer to the international date line? Here in Europe, this Friday is the 27th and the tongue is in the cheek.
Singapore? (Score:5, Interesting)
And that's the problem - everything in Singapore runs on Microsoft (our "world's first" automated train system [blue screen...!], traffic surveillance, etc etc). Nobody has a plausible explanation, but as a citizen I'm sorely disappointed.
Not too surprising... (Score:2)
Re:Singapore? (Score:2)
But I suppose the most amusing photo-op was when MS.sg released Windows XP at Takashimaya; some dude held up a lone sign saying Windows sucks or something to that effect. Singaporean police being what they are, couldn't resis
Go Mark! (Score:4, Insightful)
Now if only someone can convince the SA government that cheap internet is VERY important to the economy. At the moment communication in South Africa is controlled by Telkom, a monopoly. They charge more than R800 (about US$120) per month for ADSL, and they cap your bandwidth to 3 gig a MONTH. There's a good reason for the so called "digital divide" in South Africa, it's the prohibitive cost. There's a great site highlighting the grievances against Telkom, called Hellkom [hellkom.co.za].
Really proud (Score:2)
LUG Cape Town (Score:1, Informative)
http://www.adelie.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/photos/A
For more info please visit:
http://www.adelie.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/sp
Every day is free software day (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Every day is free software day (Score:3, Funny)
Not related (Score:1)
Free software is not just Linux (Score:4, Insightful)
It amazes me to no end how many people talk about "Linux apps" and Linux. We have the BSDs (which aren't encumbered by the GPL), we have other OSs like Syllable, NewOS, OpenBeOS, ReactOS. But it's always GNU/Linux that gets all the hype and press notes.
Mike Bouma, Amiga, Inc.
Re:Free software is not just Linux (Score:2, Informative)
FreeDOS, the 100% Microsoft compatible Open Source operating system.
Roger Wilco, over and out.
KFG
Re:Free software is not just Linux (Score:2)
It amazes me to no end how many people talk about "Linux apps" and Linux. We have the BSDs (which aren't encumbered by the GPL), we have other OSs
There is a reason for that, those other OS's dont have the GPL, linux's "secret sauce" which makes it advanace so much faster than other free os's.
You'll cease being "amazed" and start to grok the situation better when you realize its not so much "burdened" with the GPL as it is "blessed" with it.
Re:Free software is not just Linux (Score:3, Insightful)
My view of the BSD license is this: OK, I busted my ass on this great piece of software, you can steal it, change the name and sell it.
Give you an example. I use NetDisco. Amazing package for switch management written by Max Baker. Max is a BSD user, and has licensed NetDisco using the BSD license. Someone popped up on the netdisco users mailing list asking about the license (they had missed it in t
Re:Free software is not just Linux (Score:2)
But my view of the BSD license may be: I busted my ass on this great piece of software, you can use it if you wish, change the name if you wish and even try to make money out of it if you think you can. Good for you. I still have my software and so does everyone else who wants a copy for whatever reason.
Perhaps users of the BSD license are more philanthropic than those w
Re:Free software is not just Linux (Score:2)
Actually that's not true, because YOU didn't write the software. According to your anecdote, it was someone named "Max Baker".
So let me rephrase your objection: "OK, you busted your ass on this gret piece of software, and now I am bitching about because you don't care if other people change its name and sell it." Sounds like a classic case of busybodyism if you ask me.
Re:Free software is not just Linux (Score:2)
It amazes me to no end how many people talk about "Linux apps" and Linux. We have the BSDs (which aren't encumbered by the GPL), we have other OSs like Syllable, NewOS, OpenBeOS, ReactOS. But it's always GNU/Linux that gets all the hype and press notes.
Yes, the should be refering to them as GNU/Linux apps or better GNU apps.*
As for BSD's, it is unfortunate for them that they are not freed by GPL. Otherwise they would be more popular.
*The GNU system often runs the Linux kernel.
Re:Free software is not just Linux (Score:2)
This doesn't explain Syllable, NewOS, OpenBeOS, or ReactOS, which are GPL and mentioned in the granparent post. Neither does it address the issue of why the Free Software community behaves as if there was one and only one Free Software operating system.
It is not UN sponsored! (Score:5, Informative)
www.softwarefreedomday.org
Note that there are no interviews with the staff of the IOSN or the UN in the article. No direct quotes. Some reporter just looked at the web site and jumped to the wrong conclusion.
Don't believe me? Email the IOSN people. They can be reached at sunil [at] iosn.net or khairil [at] iosn.net. They are the current torch bearers at the IOSN.
The UN is not "sponsoring" this. That implies far too much and is too dangerous a position to take. You can't imagine the UN would take such a controversial stance would you? However, the Free and Open Source Software section of the UN can widely publicize FOSS so long as they do not claim it is the UN's official position.
Re:It is not UN sponsored! (Score:4, Informative)
-----Forwarded Message-----
From: David_Legard AT idg.com
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 10:50:30 +1000
Headline and first 2 pars altered as requested.
-----Forwarded Message-----
From: khairil [at] apdip.net
Please correct the title and the lead.
We are not organizing Software Freedom Day.
It is organized by SoftwareFreedomDay.org team, and the events
throughout the world are organized by Free and Open Source Software
advocates in their respective countries. This is a grassroots movement.
The International Open Source Network, in line with it's support of
wider Free/Open Source Software usage in the Asia Pacific region is
simply promoting the event and giving it coverage.
Re:It is not UN sponsored! (Score:2)
Don't waste mod points on this post.
UNESCO is very pro-free software (Score:4, Informative)
However,
In fact, they have, for long. For one thing you have the FSF/UNESCO Free Software Directory [fsf.org], and UNESCO has had a Free Software Portal [unesco.org], AFAIK for many years. Full with gnus and penguins. There are many people who really Get It in UNESCO, who realize that Free Software is all about promotion of Education, Science and Culture, and proprietary software is not.Furthermore, they (I think it was the UNESCO, couldn't find the link), issued a very critical report on DRM, exposing it for the pending cultural disaster it is.
Unfortunately, this understanding doesn't penetrate throughout the UN. On the other extreme, you have WIPO, which is completely dominated by a *cough*superpower*cough*, takes their orders from entities like USPTO, is not open to debate and works tirelessly to strip away the rights you thought you had to participate in the cultural and scientific advancements of society.
Re:It is not UN sponsored! (Score:2)
I've seen the UN talk about Free Software, and it seems to me that their definition of "freedom" means "collectivist enforcement of sharing". They want involuntary copyleft reciprocation instead of voluntary giving. To them it's not about removing artificial government
So, give away latest "GnuWin II" on Free S/W Day! (Score:3, Informative)
A new release just came out (2 CD-ROM's)
on 12 August 2004.
The idea is to give folks a chance to "try"
free software that's made for Windows...
Once they see how much better it is, they
just might give a free OS a try, later.
"Don't cause pain, give pleasure!"
Slashdot FreeSoftware Day ? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Slashdot FreeSoftware Day ? (Score:5, Funny)
It could also be in reaction to this - (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:It could also be in reaction to this - (Score:3, Informative)
They could even have gotten upset when the IOSN released their FOSS primer [iosn.net] (introducing FOSS to govt policy makers) or worse, their upcoming FOSS policy primer [iosn.net] (guide on how to create national FOSS p
Can someone PLEASE tell me... (Score:5, Insightful)
OK, somebody PLEASE tell me how these things are connected. Seriously, this is a pretty pathetic attempt to spin a news story. This is a follow-up how? Are these two events connected in any way? If not, then please just report the stories. Or perhaps the tagline should be changed to "Speculation for Nerds".
Re:Can someone PLEASE tell me... (Score:2)
Re:Can someone PLEASE tell me... (Score:2)
Or it could be that Microsoft has irrefutably done stuff like this in the past that we just take it for granted they are still doing this sort of thing?
I agree, though. Without evidence, we shouldn't make spurious and unfounded accusations.
We sho
MS == "free" in Asia (Score:3, Insightful)
That's kinda funny. From what I hear, Microsoft products are all "free" (as in beer) in many parts of Asia.
You'd think that Microsoft would be thrilled to replace its products with FOSS ones on Chinese computers, for example. With a piracy rate over 90% [com.com] in China, Microsoft must be "losing" billions of dollars there every year. If Chinese users simply switch over to Linux, they'll instantly become legitimate, fully licensed users instead of software pirates, Microsoft will no longer "lose" billions! What enterprising business wouldn't like to stick its rival with a market where piracy is rampant?
Erm, no, I guess that won't work. Chinese users switching to Linux means Microsoft suddenly loses control of the largest emerging market in the world, and the only thing it'll actually lose is the opportunity to wring as much money out of China as it can. And since you can't lose what you don't have, Microsoft doesn't actually lose money in China, it just doesn't realize all the potential sales. Microsoft would likely lose more sales in China if users there rampantly copied someone else's product than it does now with users rampantly copying Microsoft products.
Please correct the story (Score:5, Informative)
I know the founder of Software Freedom Day, it is not the IOSN, they are simply supporting and organizing several teams. The correct site for Software Freedom Day is here:
www.softwarefreedomday.org [softwarefreedomday.org]
Also, please provide a source for the speculation that Microsoft withdrew because of this or retract the article. I think it is simply unhealthy speculation.
Right Text. Wrong Link (Score:2)
Hey, please!
The link text is typed correctly, but the link itself is wrong.
Try this:
Software economics (Score:3, Insightful)
FOSS has done alot of great things but the gratest projects were born out of need and then generously gifted to the rest of society so that others can enjoy the work.
So what if your business is software and as such you have few specific needs? Then create your own market. Other industries have figured this out. For example: Make an inexpensive cartoon show, that can't likely sell enough advertizing time at first for you to break even. Get people hooked for a little while. Start selling card games and books, and posters related to the cartoon. Profit!
Software firms should be able to do the same. Make a hopefully killer app. Give it away create installed user base. Let companies and individuals pay $$$ you to implement feature X or customization y for them. Wait a release or two an d fold those features into the mainline(you have to get your userbase to upgrade so you not stuck maintaining really old trees). Repete above untill interest in the product dies off, then start on something new. Being open source can't individuals and companies implement stuff on their own and leave you out of the loop. Sure but if your app is of good quality and is substantial enough to be "commercial quality" chances are nobody can do a better job as quickly or cheaply as you can. The other reality is that if some third party does create a valuable patch you can fold it into your mainline imediately, takeing away any third party market for forprofit development on your product insuring you will have a monopoly withing the sphear of your own product.
UN distro: "UN-ix" (Score:5, Funny)
Oh, wait a minute...
Another Case Of .... (Score:2)
To me the FOSS situation is just like the telco & cable situation. Here in the good old USA we have an infastructure that is old and needs replacing (maybe wireless or fiber) and we know how it do it but can't shake loose the change. But in developing countries they are puting in the current best fit.
Here in corp. USA we are saddled with MicroSnot and some mentality which
Educating "Asia" on free software ??? (Score:2)
Last I checked India, philippines new zealand etc were already AWARE of free software... Dare say, in India free software awareness is more than that of some US states who are still clinging on to MS software for no reason (apart from hand warming from MS).
Better spend some money on educating developed countries too that there ARE alternatives to some crapware from MS.
PostgreSQL (Score:2, Insightful)
I'm sure there are lots of other examples like this. Does it have to do with the fact that there's a more commercially oriented company behind the MySQL development? If this is the case, what does this bode for the future of FOSS projects that don't have some commercial backing?
Enjoy it while you can. (Score:2)
Now back to work, punks!
- Bill Gates
Tollhouse Cookies are Open Source (Score:4, Insightful)
Even though they paid handsomly for the recipe, they started printing it on the bag of chocolate chips, and giving it away. Why would Nestle do this?
Nestle does not make money by selling cookies, and they do not make money selling cookbooks. they make money by (among other things) selling Chocolate Chips.
By giving away the recipe, people not had a reason to buy their chips. They made money, indirectly, by purchasing that recipe and giving it away.
In a very real sense, they 'open sourced' this recipe. Since recipes are not patentable, all they could do was 'trademark' the name 'TollHouse'. If you look at a bag of Hershey's chips, Ghiardelli chips, etc, they all have the same recipe, just named differently.
You can use this recipe with no obligation... you could break up your own favorite chocolate bar, and not have to buy any chips. You could leave the chips out entirely, and add M&Ms if you want. If you can make your own cookie for about 15 cents, why would you go to a store in a mall about pay a dollar for a cookie (US Currency)? You are paying for convenience, labor, expertise, etc.
This is how Open Source makes money.
Now, information is fundamentally different than tangible property. With tangible property, you don't have it once you give it to someone. Information is not like that. So how does this change the equation?
Lets say I'm building a house. I may have to pay for the bricks and mortar, but how much does that really cost compared to the price of the house? The material for an individual brick is cheap (but not free). BUT, it takes labor, time, and expetrise to move it to where it needs to be, and assemble many of them into a structure. THIS is the majority of the cost. If I were to own the brick factory AND be the bricklayer, it might be 'worth it' for me to give away the bricks in order to charge for my time.
Open Source philosophies are not new... they just seem to be thought of as new because of the impact they are having in a relatively new marketplace.
-db
Re:On a related note... (Score:4, Funny)
wouldn't that be us gentoo users? not mandrake ones?
damn lameness filter!!!! from hells heart i stab at thee!