JimIvey
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Re: Implications of using code under LGPL license
« Reply #10 on: Jul 2nd, 2007, 3:53pm » |
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on Jul 2nd, 2007, 11:53am, Isaac wrote:| There was also a fairly recent case in which a pro se named Wallace sued IBM and others for anti-trust activity arguing that releasing GPL code for free unfairly eliminated competition because Wallace couldn't sell his own programs for a cost above 0. |
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Yeah, I remember hearing about that. How I imagine IBM et al. responding: Huh?! WTF?! So, if I give away a Beta VCR I'm no longer using, that's predatory pricing aimed at all eBay used electronics sellers? More obsurd is the notion that code warriors, working from home and just letting everyone use their code for free, are in any way exhibiting predatory behavior in the market.
I suppose an interesting result would be to find for Wallace and award him/her a royalty of the revenues collected by OSS distributors from distribution of the predatorily priced software, in effect disgorging the evildoing market giant here of all its ill-gotten financial gains derived from giving things away for free.
At the same time, I understand the frustration of someone who's built a business around providing software only to find yourself competing against a collection of volunteers. But, as the global economy becomes more free flowing, we're all going to have to get used to competing with people who are willing to do more for less.
Regards.
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