[FSF India] Making money from GPLed (Free) Software

[Kalyan Varma]

On Fri, 31 Aug 2001, Vivekananda Prabhu wrote:

> Ofcourse you can make money writing GPLed software.
> But the business model is different than making money
> using MPL/BSD or proprietory licenses.

> In GPL model you make money by offering Services (not
> selling software alone). You could sell "Free"
> software but your USP will be the quality of service
> (QOS) you offer in installing/setting up software,
> software customization, training, maintenance &
> technical support.

I dont really see anything wrong selling GPL based software.
I mean Red Hat for example, gives you the OS free, However the
box pack with the printed manuals and stuff is expensive. Red Hat
does make money on those Box Packs still being GPLed.
RMS himself used to sell early versions of emacs, but had also
make a copy of it avilable on the web for free. He did make living
by selloing emacs on those old tapes.

> Considering the Freedom GPL gives to end-users I am
> beginning to wonder why doesn't a Consumer Forum (not
> FSF/RMS) ask for a ban on Non-GPL software to safe
> guard consumer interests

	You do have to realise that not all Computer companies
can survive by just offering servies. Lets say MS releases windows
under GPL, knowing MS it would make windowz *not so user friendly*.
Only that way people will come back to these companies for services.
IF the software works fine, why would anyone need service.....
So the quality of the software will suffer in this case. So if you
ban all non-GPL software... many companies will fall.
So instead of banning, we spread awareness , telling people, the kind
of freedom the people will enjoy using GPL sofware.

- -kalyan