From: Pat Eyler <pate@...>
Date: 2002-05-09T22:25:10+09:00
Subject: Re: [OT] IDE, license, GPL business models (was: Re: 'Ultimate' FreeRIDE ?)

On Thu, 9 May 2002, Tobias Reif wrote:

> Lothar Scholz wrote:
>
>
> >>It could be released as Free Software (GPL), and you still could charge
> >>the same amount of $. (AFAICS)
> >>
> > Sorry most companies showed that this is not a good idea.
> >
> > If you want a product, you must buy it - this was okay for the last
> > 7000 years and will not be changed.
>

[elided comments]

> Example showing that Free Software and business can go hand in hand:
>
> http://www.redhat.com/download/rhlinux73.html
>
> "You can download the Red Hat Linux operating system for free from ftp.redhat.com."
>
>
> Red Hat aren't just being nice; they know the score.
>
> But it doesn't just work by itself, and not all companies find the right
> way.

Running a Free Software Business is hard.  A lot of variables play into
whether it will work or not.  My take is that and IDE would be one place
where it could work give either a very small company (the garage model),
or a company with a very strong reputation and a product that spans the
entire toolchain (the cygnus approach).  With this model you'd make the
software and docs available for download but make your money on
development contracts, support contracts, and training.  I'm not sure that
an IDE would be enough, but it may be a good start.

For a lot more info, take a look at the free software business list
(fsb@crynwr.com).  Please, read the archives before jumping in.

thanks,
-pate

>
> Tobi
>
>
>