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Software For Ransom

Posted by timothy on from the plain-unmarked-bills-and-no-funny-stuff dept.

rbp writes "I just received a message from Adam Theo on the Jabber Developers Mailing List about what he calls "The Ransom Model" for software publishing. The principle, according to the above linked site, is that the "rights to the source code remain restricted until a set amount of money is collected or a set date passes, at which point the code is freed". Seems like a very interesting way to make money and produce free software. I think it's worth discussion. Take a look at the Ransom Model webpage and join the Ransom mailing list! (You might also be interested in recent news about Blender)" Reader Apreche adds a link to a Freshmeat editorial piece which draws on Theo's idea, writing "This has some obvious problems, but it is worth discussing. The biggest problem I see is where vaporware fits into the equation."

5 of 287 comments (clear)

  1. Ransom is such a negative word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They could atleast pick a word that doesn't carry so many negative associations if they wish for people to discuss it openly and fairly.

    Anyway, a third party should step up to act as a broker and hold the money until the software is ready. It'll help protect both sides.

  2. Eh, maybe its appropriate... by sterno · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Coming form a perspective of people believing that software should be free, the ransom name seems apt. In contrast, I suppose Microsoft would be using the slavery model :).

    As for a third party, is it really that important? I mean, they develop the software, you buy it. If at some point they don't make their commitment to release it to the world, then you just stop buying it from them. If you can't afford to take the risk of changing away from it later, then don't buy into ransom software.

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  3. The ramson model has one problem ... by fferreres · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If you expect the ransom will be relatively "cheap", and they promise it to be ransomised in the future you may start using it now. And as many people use it, they have more and more incentive to increase the ransom.

    At some point you may either find the ransom is not what you expected (and way off the hooks) or that you have been left locked into a 100% propietary solution and have a huge cost to move to another one. Also, the "other" solution may not be arround, because everyone was using this "good looking" ransom app.

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  4. Interesting, but not new... by V.P. · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Check for example Kelsey and Schneier's "Street Performer Protocol", published a couple years back in First Monday:

    The Street Performer Protocol and Digital Copyrights

    There the idea is that the "author" promises to deliver his "work" (a novel, software, anything), as soon as he receives a certain amount of donations. Stephen King actually tried to publish a book like that, chapter by chapter, a few years ago, but I think he concluded that the time wasn't right for it yet.

  5. King did it wrong by samael · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If King had said "I need $10k for the next chapter." he'd have been fine. By saying "x% of you need to pay" he was doomed to failure.

    If I downloaded at home and work, then I screwed his calculations. If people downloaded 20 copies to screw with the system, they succeeded.

    If a writer just decided what the market is worth for the story/novel and asks for it, then they're being fair and the system is more likely to work.

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