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Giftfile Project Primes Decentralized Gift Economy

Posted by michael on from the whuffie-for-everyone dept.

belmo writes "Last week, the Giftfile Project unveiled developer documentation and reference software for the giftfile system. This system enables producers and supporters of computer files containing nonproprietary intellectual works to participate in a gift economy. Tax deductible lump donations, made to nonprofit intermediaries, can be allocated to these files in an automated and efficient manner, supporting transactions as little as .01 USD. Nonproprietary intellectual works include free software, music, and literature. To use the system, you don't have to go to some web site and register--it's decentralized, built on open standards, and does not depend on any for-profit entity. The project is currently targeting free software developers to test the system, help make it accessible to other computer users, and be its first participants."

8 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. How Typical by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How typical. When a news story concerning **AA, specifically how it is going to sue people who download songs from the internet (I would not be shocked if the songs were Bach Chorales), everyone gets ticked, and we have veritable screaming matches.

    Then, when a theoretical solution to the problem of how [composers|programmers|authors] will get compensation, NO ONE CARES!

    1. Re:How Typical by DerekLyons · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Then, when a theoretical solution to the problem of how [composers|programmers|authors] will get compensation, NO ONE CARES!
      It's theoretical alright, and fraught with practical problems.

      First off, the 'gift money' is only given to the [composer|programmer|author] on demand... Which means that any interest that acrues will end up as income to the 'giftfile' organization. Lacking any place to spend the money... Where does it go? (Fat salaries for employees and managers is my bet.)

      Second off the proponents appear to making the suggestion that their should be multiple gift pools, which makes for a situation ripe with oppurtunities for fraud.

      Thirdly; One also wonders how long the nonprofit status will survive, since the company isn't performing charitable, research, or educational functions, but is rather providing 'bank like' functions in distributing income to individuals. (They claim they are 'grants', but the fact that they are monies earmarked for an individual and payable to that individual on demand moves that claim onto *very* shakey ground.) The granting of status as a non-profit doesn't mean it can't be revoked, such revocation can also (for tax purposes) be antedated. (This entire 'thirdly' is mostly the thoughts of my wife... A CPA who has done tax and nonprofit work.)

  2. How long before.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ....two people set up projects with an absolutely useless piece of free IP (like a 52x52 jpg of pure white), and start "donating" equal amounts to each other just for the tax deduction?

    1. Re:How long before.... by gbulmash · · Score: 4, Interesting
      You need to be a 503c non-profit corporation to qualify for donations to you to be tax deductible. It's not easy to qualify for 503c.

      --
      Start a happiness pandemic
    2. Re:How long before.... by /dev/kev · · Score: 4, Informative

      RTFA. Donations are to "giftpools", which are non-profit organisations. Producers of giftfiles can apply to the giftpool for a "grant" of the amount of donations which have been allocated towards their giftfile. The grant may be subject to taxation, however the donation would be eligible as a deduction. It is, however, futile if you donate $500 to your friend and then claim back $500 in a grant which came from him (via the giftpool). In fact, it's pretty stupid, since the giftpool takes a small amount of the money for their operating costs.

      From the last link in the story:

      ... other participants in the giftfile system make allocations to giftfiles as described above, yet do not produce giftfiles themselves. The way they gain privilege to make allocations is by donating cash to a giftpool. Such donations are tax deductible, because giftpools are nonprofit entities chartered to fund nonproprietary works.

      and

      Be aware that giftpool grants may need to be declared on your taxes.

      --
      Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.
  3. The Gift of Vapor by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 4, Interesting

    After reading their vacuous website it seems that they themselves are collecting donations by means of snail-mail only. Which seems completely laughable on the face of it.

    And even if they emerge from vapor-mode and do indeed set up this system, it seems geared torwards institutions rather than individuals as you'd have to use a "gift-pool" ie: a centralized body and set aside fundage into that BEFORE you can assign a portion of those funds to a recipient. And that's not to mention the restrictions placed on those who may contribute their work by requiring contributers to license with a handfull of licenses.

    Personally, I think PayPal already covers the online donation territory in a far less political and more trustworthy fashion. Anyone can set up a donation link for any reason whatsoever and collect fundage from the willing. No restrictions on what license is used, what type of media it is or anything else for that matter. And furthermore, you don't have to lock up funds in your paypal account to be able to donate, paypal will transfer from your bank account/credit card automagically.

    I think the developers would be wise to reconsider their very niche-centric and restrictive objectives if they are to expect any real usage by both contributors and benefactors.

  4. I don't get it by Brandybuck · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This system enables producers and supporters of computer files containing nonproprietary intellectual works to participate in a gift economy.

    I'm sorry, but I don't get it. Why do I need to "participate" in this "system"? When I post my software on my website under an unenbcumbered license, every and all can come by and grab it. And if I want the unencumbered software of another that has been publicly posted, I can go and grab it. Neither side needs a special system to participate in.

    ESR was using a metaphor when we was talking about gift economies in his books. The analogy is not accurate, because computer files are not integral "things". Potlatches were gift economies, because when you give your neighbor a salmon, you had one less for yourself. But when you give your neighbor a copy of your software, you still have it yourself.

    Gift economies were based on plentiful resources, but not unlimited resources. (and they also had a strong element of "oneupmanship")

    --
    Don't blame me, I didn't vote for either of them!
  5. Re:But I'm REALLY CHEAP ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    > I have seen "Free" software that it is almost EXPECTED by the author that he get a "Donation" for it, kinda irks me and usually It gets dumped, If you want to charge for it FINE but dont try and hide it behind the guise of free software then BEG for green.

    Yeah, how dare they encourage people to voluntarily donate to them.. the gall!

    There are a lot of projects out there that are very deserving of financial rewards for all their efforts. I think this is one of the downsides to the "Free Software" movement. Too many people think of it in terms of "Free as in my cheap ass doesn't have to pay a dime for it", not in terms of the freedoms Mr. Stallman cares about.

    I think if there was a viable mechanism for expecting/getting payments (the vast majority of shareware fails financially) many developers would use it. If it meant better software got produced, and more developers could make a living from it, that would be a very good thing.