Re: [fsf-community-team] Argument from economic nessesity

[Mike VandeVelde]

Simon Bridge wrote:
> Curiously, and in the face of "gnu/linux is not ready for the desktop",
> it is the day-to-day desktop that is the first target.
>   

Curiously, to the curious ;-)

> In the private sector, there are lots of inquiries with the big hurdle
> of the moment being support and some people worried about the future of
> software development.
>   

Worried about the future of software development??

> Private companies have made a virtue out of greed and self interest so
> their management are not very open to a community spirit as a support
> guarantee however well proven. They want to know their support is paid
> for. (Why would someone act in my interests if I don't own them?)
>   

Yes! For those sorts of people, they are free to keep paying (embracing 
freedom does not mean they need to stop paying). If that's what makes 
them comfortable. Even having that sort of conversation is a step in the 
right direction though. Just remember that free software won't die 
without their support, it doesn't hurt to politely remind them of that, 
and frame the conversation that way. "You know, there is another way..."

> Some sort of overview of what successful business models have been used
> would be useful here.
>   

Yeah maybe.

> There is a feeling that we have to be careful not to rock the boat. I
> just try to make sure we do not lose sight of our core aims ... do we
> really need these companies on board? Well: some people are eyeing up
> lucrative contracts.
>   

These companies are welcome to jump on board, but no they really aren't 
needed. Approach from a position of power: "I'm a Free (Wo/)Man. If you 
are interested, I can tell you a bit about it." If the response is "I 
don't believe it, it can't be, there must be a catch", then the come 
back is "it's been happening for 20 years (forever really) and it won't 
slow down without you". Lucrative contracts are great and all, but the 
boat is already rocking - don't cave in and plead.

> This is very similar to the media companies - their behavior suggests
> they have no idea why anyone pays for their "product". Why go to the
> movies when you can wait a bit for the DVD? Why watch one movie and not
> another? Why pay for a DVD when you can download the ripped version for
> free? The DRM systems answer by saying that you will pay for a movie
> because you are forced to. Creates an illusion of security for the
> people who put up the money. To someone in this mindset, creating a
> situation where people can watch what they want has got to be scary -
> especially if you suspect your competitors will keep using force.
>
> You get the same under vendor lock-in.
>
> I have to keep reminding people that "pragmatic" is a word lawyers use
> when they mean "immoral"

The illusion is of scarcity. Like there are only so many ideas out 
there, better buy some while the buying is good, and hope the supply 
doesn't dry up. When really there is nothing that isn't based on what 
came before, and no matter how hard they've tried throughout history 
creativity has never been crushed. When you fence off the commons and 
charge admission, innovation slows down. All this intellectual property 
crap is a heavy heavy burden on society, stifling the progression of 
novelty. Be afraid, or don't be afraid, things will keep getting more 
interesting either way. We pick the winning team - cooperating to expand 
the commons - victory is inevitable!

Hehe, that's me. I do a lot of work with Lotus Notes, on one side that's 
given me a lot of practice dealing with haters, on the other side that 
makes me proprietary satan spawn (in some little defense there is 
http://www.openntf.org/ with an option for GPL). I use free software 
where I can, even in some places where it isn't exactly easy, but I use 
proprietary software in a lot of situations where I probably don't truly 
need to. So either kick me out of this club now, or you'll regret it 
later! Muwahaha!!

Mike VandeVelde

ps - instead of a boring overview of successful business models, how 
about a more interesting list of historical unsuccessful attempts to 
crush creativity?
-Galileo and the Inquisition
-Capoeira
-the survival of potlatch culture
-rock 'n roll is the devil's music
-home taping is killing music
-DeCSS on t-shirts
etc etc