[Sussex] RE: FreeBSD 5.0, GPL vs BSD license

[Steve Dobson]

Aternoon Geoff

On 20 Jan 2003 Geoff Teale wrote:

> I agree that [VMware] is a useful tool, but from a business point of view
how
> do you convince businesses to swap - do they really want to hear that it's
> going to cost them a license fee of £299 per desktop to run the same OS
> they are now, only more slowly, just so they can use a LINUX desktop.  If
> you are in a large company that is moving everyone over and has a few
> people who still need to run Windows apps then yes, this is a great idea, 
> but if every desktop in the company needs VMWare then it's going to get
> expensive and businesses won't like that.

I'm not saying the VMware is the only way to get companies to switch from
the Windoz desktop to the Linux desktop, but for some it does.

> Agreed, but companies also hate expenditure and to get anything done you
> have to have an argument so strong it can't be smashed by a competing
> manager pointing out that your spending a load of cash just to replicate
> the current position.

But if VMware allows them to change from one OS to other at a reduced risk
then
this _could_ justify the license cost of VMware.

>                        I look forward to a solution that would allow
people
> a _free_ (as in beer as well as in speech) or lowcost solution to this
> problem 

So you want your _free_ beer and drink it :-)  [ It would be nice :-) ]

>          VMWare tried that, didn't make any money out of it and then
pushed
> their prices up to make up the shortfall - I think maybe they went for the
> mass market too soon.

So the market isn't there yet, but I'm hopeful.

> I have no problem with companies making money from free software - what
> I had a problem with is a license scheme that allows companies to use and
> improve code that is freely available but then not provide that freedom to
> others or make any payment back to the providors of the source - I know
> this is the preference of the Authors but it pisses me off.  The GPL stops
> that from happening, this I like.  

But the BSD guys didn't like the restriction that the GPL demands.  It's not
a _free_ (as in speach) license.

> For me releasing code under the BSD license would be a bit like me
> selling people rides in your car (Steve has a _nice_ car :-)  )  and not
> letting have any of the profits.

No - that is not a good example.  For two reasons:
   1). I own my car!
   2). I own by car!
Okay, I know that's only 1 argument, but it is just an important one it
needed
to be said twice [Geoff - thanks for the excute to pay homage to Red Drawf].

You can not sell rides in my car UNLESS I give you permission to do so.

If one writes code then one own that code (though copyright).  The license
you
use defines how you mind that code being use.  The BSD licence is the only 
free license I know of.  There are may version of the GPL produced by the 
software copyright holders to make "sure" they get and good ideas back.

<snip>

> [P]eople could have got you to
> give them a ride in your car for free, but they didn't know it was your
> car, cause I sprayed it red and stuck lotus badge on the front.

So some people are stupid and pay for things that they could have got for
free.  We know this already.  Some people buy bottled water when it comes
out of a tap for no charge to the drinker.  Some people my Window/Solaris
etc, when there are free OS available.

> You
> could have gained lots of friends, but you didn't, I now have lots of
> friends who think I'm wonderful because as far as they're concerned I'm
> giving them something they couldn't have got elsewhere.

But word gets out.  Linux is becoming a household name.  It is at least as
well known as Solaris, HP-UX, AIX.  Maybe as well known as Windows.

When your friends find out you sold them rides on a free service they will
desert you.  They will come and praise me.  Taking the long view I win; you
lose.

The FreeBSD also allows you to make a change and then sell that difference
excusivly; the GPL does not!  That gets some companies developing on FreeBSD
as opposed to Linux; my last company did.

Don't get me wrong here; I perfer the GPL, but if the FreeBSD gets companies
using free software then I think it is a good thing[tm].  

Steve