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Project Gutenberg 2 Raises Some Hackles

Posted by timothy on from the eggs-for-omelets dept.

An anonymous reader writes "LISNews.com reports on a new web venture called Project Gutenberg 2, offering access to electronic books in Adobe eBook format on a paid membership basis. Some Gutenberg volunteers are concerned about the use of the PG name in such a context. The news raises questions about PG's ongoing commitment to the ideals of free distribution and nonproprietary formats. Last year PG celebrated the release of its 10,000th title, accomplished with the help of many volunteer proofreaders, many of whom aren't happy about charging people to view these titles in Adobe eBook format."

10 of 303 comments (clear)

  1. And in related news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    the Humane Society...2!!!! Now accepting unwanted pets and animals from the community which we will be selling to be used in scientific research!

    *btw We are not associated with the original Humane Society.

  2. Microsoft 2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    What a great idea! I think I'll start up a business called "Microsoft 2" and start selling Linux distros through it...

  3. Re:Bah. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    They can always fork and continue with their own codebase, right?

  4. Re:Some Companies... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Linux 2 has been out for quite a while. In fact they're up to 2.6 now!

    GET WITH THE TIMES MAN!!

  5. There is an easy solution by heironymouscoward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I am pleased to announce:

    ProjectGutenburg 3
    (not affiliated with any other PG).
    E-books for FREE!
    Come & get'm while they're hot!

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une signature
  6. Uptime 99.98%??? by yudan · · Score: 2, Funny
    In this page it states
    Since our initial launch time our webservers have had a 99.98% up time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ...
    Posting a story about it on slashdot will definitely change their stated uptime. :-)
  7. I suggest they rename it to by Rogerborg · · Score: 3, Funny

    Project Firefox.

    --
    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
    1. Re:I suggest they rename it to by welshwaterloo · · Score: 1, Funny

      then:
      Project Lutenburg

      then:
      Project Luten--

      Oh, the humanity...

  8. Who cares? I'm waiting for... by Call+Me+Black+Cloud · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...the Steve Guttenberg project. Can you imagine it? All of his works, from the seminal "Police Academy" series to the touching "Cocoon", all available for free. Savor the acting in "Diner", then laugh your ass off at the zany antics in "Short Circuit". Oh, whose heart didn't go out to "Number 5" in that masterwork?

    Text is dead; long live video. Free Steve's work now!

  9. Re:name use questionable, but fee is for added val by Erik+Hollensbe · · Score: 2, Funny

    Gutenberg.

    one t.

    Guttenberg sounds like the name of a society for fishers or hunters. :)

    (Your local spelling correction fairy has struck)