[ILUG-BOM] Re: OT the middle path

[jtdyahoo]

On Saturday 21 July 2001 00:17, Linuxers wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Aarjav Trivedi" <aarjavt at yahoo.com>
>
> > Exactly my thoughts
> > just one question
> > What is the middle path ?
> > or if that is too big which i think it is
> > Name some companies which follow it.

The real issue is not the amount of money or profit you make but 
wether you encroach upon others rights. Do not encroach on others 
rights and make all the money you would ever want.
 
There is no middle path. If you agree with the fact that IP should 
be unencumbered then it would be unethical for you to encumber your 
IP which in any case is built on the knowledge of many others.

What would you define as personal. If I use your product in my 
office (i do not sell your product to anybody) for improving my GNU 
Billbasher and sell it, is it commercial, and how would you cost 
your contribution. Remeber it was my Billbasher and my effort in 
improving it. And my friend loves your stuff as he can bash 
MTNL/MSEB/the-guy-next-door and takes a free copy from me. Now 
what?. Trying to build a business on restrictions is not workable.

> I think Kishor has answered the question acceptably. It's one
> option. I don't know what companies follow a "middle path" and
> what exactly that is. I would like to know, because I don't see
> business models in the open source/free software world being as
> money-making as commercial software businesses.

You would require heavy capital investment or be a niche player.
Use capital to build your brand image. If you brand it well the 
"ignorant" majority will buy your GNU Excel. 
Or produce niche products. Eg. couple hardware and software. The 
user could write his own software and engineer his own hardware, 
but it would be such a economic pain that he would choose not to. 
Of course other technically capable guys would copy it. But you 
will not be sleeping (like premier automobiles) while others are 
copying it. You will be converting and upgrading your product to 
GNU-Net-slasher. And if the competition is improving it you will 
benefit since it is gpld. If the competition does not publish their 
derivate works as per the gpl, wait until they have made money, 
then sue the pants off them and live happily ever after in Hawaii.


-- 
jtdesouza at yahoo.com

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