Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: Should Commercial Software Prices Be Pegged To a Country's GDP?
Here's a bright idea from dryriver
Why don't software makers look at the average income level in a given country -- per capita GDP for example -- and adjust their software prices in these countries accordingly? Most software makers in the U.S. and EU currently insist on charging the full U.S. or EU price in much poorer countries. "Rampant piracy" and "low sales" is often the result in these countries. Why not change this by charging lower software prices in less wealthy countries?
This presupposes the continuing existence of closed-source software businesses -- but is there a way to make that pricing more fair? Leave your best suggestions in the comments. should commercial software prices be pegged to a country's GDP?
This presupposes the continuing existence of closed-source software businesses -- but is there a way to make that pricing more fair? Leave your best suggestions in the comments. should commercial software prices be pegged to a country's GDP?
Why yes.... my multinational corporation will be happy to purchase 300000 user licenses from our 1 person office in your favorite poor country.
Dear Dryriver,
You present a most sensible idea and I'm sure there are other alternatives along the same basic idea -- which any human with a heart could devise if she/he gives the problem minimal consideration.
I commend you for seeing the problem from the right angle; notice, though, that many will think about the problem from the wrong P.O.V. -- e.g. like the AC above. And that's why nobody did ever come up with an idea to solve the piracy conundrum and still make possible for the poor guys to be honest.: because they don't care about that... they care about making money. Full stop.
And woe into you if you ever might suggest this is not enough! They'll say you are:
a. a communist;
b. an anarchist;
c. some variant of f4aggot;
d. Mother Theresa;
e. any other offense they can come up with now that they got the power.
But your idea is feasible, just like there are DVD regions and DRM restrictions (e.g. "sorry, Hooloo is not available in your country, thank you for your interest... don't call us, we'll call you"). Some even have done something in that direction... e.g. Windows 7 "Starter" version.
But the best way is really what someone already has posted: Linux.
MAGA? Make Americans Grope Again?
Monica Lewinsky called. She wants her blue dress back.
"I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
It is a dumb idea. Just because someone lives in a poor country doesn't mean they are poor. Just because someone lives in a rich country doesn't mean they are rich. It would be more reasonable to consider the income of each person individually, and instead of doing it for a superfluous item like software, it is much more important to do it for critical items like food. I hereby propose that everyone should be required to bring a notarized copy of their tax returns to the grocery store, so Safeway knows how much to charge for the milk.