"open-source" x "free software"
Robin 'Roblimo' Miller
robin at roblimo.com
Fri May 7 14:53:36 UTC 2004
>When you mean freely accessible, does it means that we can't charge for
>downloads?
>
No, you can charge all you want, but since your customers can freely
redistribute your code, you'd better offer offer your paid users
something extra so they want to give you money. Suggestions:
- Support services
- Installation help
- Private servers that get new releases faster than free mirrors
- Voluntary, shareware-style registration
- Sell documention
Some companies also produce "side by side" open source and commercial
products. OpenOffice is free and freely redistributable, but StarOffice
costs money and is not freely redistributable even though it's based on
OO code.
StarOffice comes with support, documention, and several features OO
lacks -- and plenty of companies and at least a few individuals seem to
be buying it.
- Robin 'Roblimo' Miller
professional troublemaker
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