Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id ; Mon, 29 Jul 2002 05:07:50 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id ; Mon, 29 Jul 2002 05:07:50 -0400 Received: from dns1.arrancar.com ([209.92.187.33]:7133 "EHLO core.arrancar.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id ; Mon, 29 Jul 2002 05:07:49 -0400 Subject: Re: Funding GPL projects or funding the GPL? From: Federico Ferreres To: Hans Reiser Cc: Alexander Viro , Daniel Mose , Larry McVoy , Rik van Riel , Larry McVoy , linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org, openpatentfunds@home.se In-Reply-To: <3D44F136.8060202@namesys.com> References: <3D44F136.8060202@namesys.com> Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Ximian Evolution 1.0.5 Date: 29 Jul 2002 06:07:02 -0300 Message-Id: <1027933632.4472.88.camel@fede> Mime-Version: 1.0 Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Content-Length: 3674 Lines: 86 On Mon, 2002-07-29 at 04:39, Hans Reiser wrote: > Your idea has some merit in my opinion. I think that my version of it > that I presented at linuxworld some years ago, which is called an "Open > Sale", has some advantages. Your description of the problem is perfect. The solution, though, is difficult to enforce as there's not a single incentive for OEMs to fund anyone else that MS (reinstalling Windows). > My approach has the advantage that the fee scales with hardware costs, > and that it is set by users. That's really an improvement over my idea (in the corporate area mostly. In the home user area it doesn't matter, as he will probably use 1 computer at a time). I can clearly see that a combination of both schemes would be needed, because they are opposite sides of the same coin (your idea could be though as an x% tax on hardware to fund developement, mine as a direct payment from the users). So one natural way of getting the best of both worlds would be: - Hardware EOM could pay an x% per machine to the fGPL foundation, and that would grant the buyer of that hardware a permanent license to all fGPLd software. Users could request the OEM (IBM, etc) to offer them that non-expiring (per machine) license instead of a preinstaled MS Windows. This would mean OSS remains totaly free as in freedom and _beer_. - Hardware manufacturers that do NOT want to offer their customers that option will be penalized because the user will have to pay the regular 1 year fGPL I have already described or get their hardware somewhere else. This would create a great incentive for OEM to offer the fGPL license instead of a preinstaled MS Windows. - If desired, all past hardware sales could be granted a free non-expiring "per-machine" fGPL license (so you'll see funds starting low and growing every year in size) so that there can be NO complains from anyone. Maybe the grant (for old hardware) could be limited to individuals, non-profit organizations, goverments and educational institutions. - Manufacturers will be granted the right to claim to be GNU, Linux or OSS ready ONLY if they actively offer the fGPL license as choice to customers (instead of the preinstaled Windows). They could also be required to include a "GNU/Linux ready" sticker in their hardware. I believe this can be made to work in reasonable time, with minimun effort and minimun hassle. There are problems, but they could be worked out if there's support. Everything else remains the same (as Hans and I have said, the users will have a limited ability to chose what they need. I say limited because for an Office application to work the core must remain funded even though the user may not notice it). > However, you should understand that an idea is not enough, you must have > sufficient sociological mass to pull it off. Neither you nor I are in > that position at this time. Most people will be hostile to you if you > propose an idea that you lack the sociological position to effectuate..... Makes sense. But if the idea is good, the ones that can make a difference will support it, assuming they analized what is being proposed. > -- > Hans > I will (silently) put some resources on polishing the hard edges of idea. It believe it may be worth it. Federico PS: I probably never reach the needed sociological position in OSS, so at some point someone will have to help (if they believe it's a good thing). - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/