Licensing

[Richard Gaskin]

Peter Haworth wrote:

 > I don't mind opening up the source code but I'm not prepared
 > to allow it to be given to anyone a user chooses free of charge.
 > I understand that practically I can't stop that happening but I
 > want to at least expressly forbid it in the license agreement.

One of the many interesting things the GPL has given us is an 
opportunity to consider redefinitions of value.

A proprietary license with a fee requirement certainly has some monetary 
value, but how much?

After all, as you noted, those inclined to share it with their friends 
will do so anyway, they'll just be either secretive about it or worse 
not use it at all if they can't afford the fee.

Schools are one of many scenarios I consider with projects where the GPL 
is an option.  Few schools have enough money, and many spend what little 
they have in suboptimal ways, leaving little for even great software of 
the sort you make.  So they just do without.

But we might ask:  what is currency?

Is it worth more to have a small amount of cash or a large amount of 
gratitude (e.g., good press, donations, and even potential contracting 
opportunities)?

I don't have an answer; I don't think there is a single answer for all 
projects.

I just think it's interesting to ponder, esp. in the domain of developer 
tools since developers are the only group of people who can make full 
use of open source's most useful feature: the source.

-- 
  Richard Gaskin
  Fourth World Systems
  Software Design and Development for Desktop, Mobile, and Web
  ____________________________________________________________
  Ambassador at FourthWorld.com        http://www.FourthWorld.com