" The repository will consist of a MySQL database, Z Object Publishing Environment application server, Apache Web server, OpenLDAP authentication service for storing membership data, and Debian Linux"
At least the software they are using for the repository aren't considered pieces of crap. As for the support, any decent sys admin shouldn't have trouble learning new O/S and software. If the sys admin sucks, then there plenty good out of work sys admins out there.
I can confirm your statement. Following is from FSF site.
"A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms. Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to anyone anywhere. Being free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay for permission."
The EU just wants to get their hands on the cash that MS is holding. Really, they can impose restrictions to curb the monoploy that MS holds without such a high fine. It reminds me of small towns setting up excessive speed traps to get revenue.
Why should the law be created to benefit us all for someone else's work? If you work to make money to buy a new car or a gaming machine, it does not benifit me one bit. So if someone choses to work to create a work of art, it has to benefit all of us? It doesn't sound fair.
If the artist gets screwed because they sold their rights, then they have no one to blame but themselves. Besides those big media companies get shafted time to time. Remember Mariah Carry?
If that's the case, you'll never be able to recoup your R&D costs because your competitors will be able to underprice you.
For example, you have an idea for invention. You borrow $100,000 for R&D to invent a widget. You sell them at $10 each to cover your expenses (which includes loan repayment). Your competitor copies your idea and produces widgets and since he/she does not have a loan to repay, your competitor sells the same widget for $5. You'll end up going bankrupt due to the poor sales.
And people in Europe thought that they were safe from US-like patent laws but look at what's happening in EU now. Many US laws have tendency to migrate to other countries so if you want privacy, take a stand and fight for your rights insteading of just fleeing.
He didn't say he will not pay for learning how to program, he won't pay for the software product no matter what. Beside, free information for building a car is not the same as a free new car, nor does information on programming same as a software product. If someone wants to charge for their software, so be it (even GPL allows for charing for software). If they want to give it away for free, more power to them.
I hate mowing my yard so you should mow for me for free. I WILL NOT PAY FOR YARD MOWING. Yard mowing should be available for free for all people. And I'm driving a 10 year old car. It's not fair that there are people with newer and nicer cars out there. Mod me down, but I WILL NOT PAY FOR A NEW CAR, and you shouldn't either. New cars should be available for free for all people.
Perhaps there are many outfits out there run by geeks with big egos? They believe that they are center of the world and think that anyone who can't install/use their functionally perfect software don't deserve to use computers in the first place.
The cold hard fact is that many average comsumers have problems installing even simple Windows programs and they are the majority, not us geeks.
I second that! I can put that money in a conservative tax free or deferred investment and still beat out social security a wide margin, esp. if they plan on cutting social security payments in the future.
And how do you think that people will do it? Out of their basement lab? Sure, millions die for malaria and AIDS, but yet, people spend billions on gaming every year instead of donating their money to the finding the cure. People invest in stocks of drug companies to MAKE money and thus, to get more funding, the drug companies has to make money for its shareholders and they do it by IP.
Since there is no cure for AIDS, why don't YOU try producing a cure for it? I'll bet that the average slashdotter will spend their $50 on buying the latest game instead of donating it to your cause.
I don't see a problem with that if the citizens are willing to just sit on their asses and do nothing. If anything, thing like this should give the people incentive to be more politically proactive.
Slashdot Mirror
More like not RTFA is a religion here.
" "We want to create a central place where the public sector can go and see what other projects are being developed,"
This project looks more like the government opening up their projects for the public viewing, not the anti-MS, must use open-source project.
If you RTFA, you would've noticed that:
" The repository will consist of a MySQL database, Z Object Publishing Environment application server, Apache Web server, OpenLDAP authentication service for storing membership data, and Debian Linux"
At least the software they are using for the repository aren't considered pieces of crap. As for the support, any decent sys admin shouldn't have trouble learning new O/S and software. If the sys admin sucks, then there plenty good out of work sys admins out there.
You can also support FSF by "buying" GLPed software from their site as well.
I can confirm your statement. Following is from FSF site.
"A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms. Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to anyone anywhere. Being free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay for permission."
The EU just wants to get their hands on the cash that MS is holding. Really, they can impose restrictions to curb the monoploy that MS holds without such a high fine. It reminds me of small towns setting up excessive speed traps to get revenue.
France kept out of the war but they still managed to piss off the terroists.
And the administrering part would be the downfall of this plan as people tend to favor others with connections.
Why should the law be created to benefit us all for someone else's work? If you work to make money to buy a new car or a gaming machine, it does not benifit me one bit. So if someone choses to work to create a work of art, it has to benefit all of us? It doesn't sound fair.
If the artist gets screwed because they sold their rights, then they have no one to blame but themselves. Besides those big media companies get shafted time to time. Remember Mariah Carry?
How about, why research when you can leech ideas off of others?
If that's the case, you'll never be able to recoup your R&D costs because your competitors will be able to underprice you.
For example, you have an idea for invention. You borrow $100,000 for R&D to invent a widget. You sell them at $10 each to cover your expenses (which includes loan repayment). Your competitor copies your idea and produces widgets and since he/she does not have a loan to repay, your competitor sells the same widget for $5. You'll end up going bankrupt due to the poor sales.
But it's easier to tell others to give up their IP than contributing to public domain yourself.
And people in Europe thought that they were safe from US-like patent laws but look at what's happening in EU now. Many US laws have tendency to migrate to other countries so if you want privacy, take a stand and fight for your rights insteading of just fleeing.
Very informative post, but it won't prevent many slashdotter from putting on their tin foil hats.
He didn't say he will not pay for learning how to program, he won't pay for the software product no matter what. Beside, free information for building a car is not the same as a free new car, nor does information on programming same as a software product. If someone wants to charge for their software, so be it (even GPL allows for charing for software). If they want to give it away for free, more power to them.
I hate mowing my yard so you should mow for me for free. I WILL NOT PAY FOR YARD MOWING. Yard mowing should be available for free for all people. And I'm driving a 10 year old car. It's not fair that there are people with newer and nicer cars out there. Mod me down, but I WILL NOT PAY FOR A NEW CAR, and you shouldn't either. New cars should be available for free for all people.
Why not take the MySQL way and make money off of open source product instead of the Apple's hybrid way?
Wow, if I had mod points, I'd mod you up. Indeed, even FSF states that you can charge for GPLed software if you wish.
Perhaps there are many outfits out there run by geeks with big egos? They believe that they are center of the world and think that anyone who can't install/use their functionally perfect software don't deserve to use computers in the first place.
The cold hard fact is that many average comsumers have problems installing even simple Windows programs and they are the majority, not us geeks.
I was about to run KDE apps in GNOME under Red Hat 8.0 and I believe you can do the same in earlier versions as well.
The city wants to save you from yourself because if you drink enough of this "Dihydrogen Monoxide", it can kill you.
I second that! I can put that money in a conservative tax free or deferred investment and still beat out social security a wide margin, esp. if they plan on cutting social security payments in the future.
And how do you think that people will do it? Out of their basement lab? Sure, millions die for malaria and AIDS, but yet, people spend billions on gaming every year instead of donating their money to the finding the cure. People invest in stocks of drug companies to MAKE money and thus, to get more funding, the drug companies has to make money for its shareholders and they do it by IP.
Since there is no cure for AIDS, why don't YOU try producing a cure for it? I'll bet that the average slashdotter will spend their $50 on buying the latest game instead of donating it to your cause.
It's not throwing the money at it, it's about taking less (or no) money out. They should be doing the same thing to Social Security.
I don't see a problem with that if the citizens are willing to just sit on their asses and do nothing. If anything, thing like this should give the people incentive to be more politically proactive.