Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 20th Apr 2012 20:09 UTC, submitted by fran
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RE[4]: Comment by Luminair
by tuma324 on Sat 21st Apr 2012 11:42
in reply to "RE[3]: Comment by Luminair"
RE[5]: Comment by Luminair
by ideasman42 on Sat 21st Apr 2012 15:07
in reply to "RE[4]: Comment by Luminair"
OK sorry about that, I regret what I said.
The thing is, even if I wasnt, my point still stands...
The way I see it, free software is not a social contract, as with some cases where there its not a rule to give, but frowned not to.
- By releasing free software, I want my users to use it guilt free without some implied understanding they should give _anything_ back.
- If you are given dirty looks for not giving-back, some people would probably prefer to pay and be done with it.
If someone makes money with free software which is doing poorly, then they may help fund it - let peoples & companies self-interest direct which projects are contributed back to.





Member since:
2007-07-20
One of the freedoms of opensource is _NOT_ to contribute back, no obligations, no strings attached - as long as you meet the license, I really don't like that there is a notion of moral obligation to give back to a project that by the looks of things is already doing rather well.
Much rather Ubuntu focus on user level issues and making a good user experience.
You are a leech just like Canonical then. "
sheesh, I spent most of my working life creating/improving free software.
Even spent almost a year unpaid (living off savings). I write GPL software, people use it and don't have to contribute back - its fine by me
http://www.ohloh.net/p/blender/contributors/274877909577