Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!columbia!read.columbia.edu!kearns
From: kearns@read.columbia.edu (Steve Kearns)
Newsgroups: gnu.misc.discuss
Subject: Paying for FSF
Keywords: FSF GNU
Message-ID: <6415@columbia.edu>
Date: 27 Jul 89 17:08:40 GMT
References: <12867@well.UUCP>
Sender: news@columbia.edu
Reply-To: kearns@cs.columbia.edu
Organization: Columbia University Department of Computer Science
Lines: 34


I have a proposal: 

The FSF should sell (for MONEY) the right to use their code in
a proprietary product.

Yes, I know that selling software is against the FSF Manifesto.  

People who insist on making proprietary software will do so whether or
not GNU sells their source code.  By selling the use of their code GNU
can apply the money to their "cause".  Proprietary software makers
would be furthering the cause of non-proprietary software, and the
excellent gnu tools would have much wider use.

But, you may say, the GNU software is bait to try to entice programmers
to contribute to the project.  Making it easier to make proprietary
software would hurt GNU.  

I think that there are basically 3 groups of programmers:  (1) those
that believe in GNU  (2) those that may go either way   (3) those who
insist on making proprietary software.  (I am in (3), by the way.)
By selling software, GNU may make it less likely that the people in
group 2 join the movement.  In my opinion, this group is vanishingly
small.  

In summary, by selling the rights to use their code in a proprietary
product, GNU would only GAIN: "advertising", money, and respect.
The world would be a much nicer place for those of us in group (3), 
because we could use the excellent GNU tools for a fair price.  
Also, netnews traffic would be much reduced (no more GNU flames),
saving millions of dollars each year :-}.

-steve
(kearns@cs.columbia.edu)