Re: [RE: RPG Code on the NET]

[Frank Kolmann <fkolmann@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dan Bale Wrote:
> BTW, Frank, you seemed to rip on those who desire to profit on sharing
>their code.  If I misinterpreted, I apologize.  However, "free >enterprise" &
"supply and demand" are basic Economics 101 principles.
>Is anyone going to pay me $20for my super-duper date routine?  
>No (well, at least, I don't think so...);

Dan you raise a good point.  I had not thought deeply about this entire
concept of Free Software.  The Free Software Foundation base their arguments
on the concept of Free Speech.  Now that I try to see the relationship I find
the issue unclear.  This issue is very pertinant in that there is an alternate
version of the GNU public licence that 
(I think) allows the sales of the software and I do not know how the copy
rights are handled.  I suppose this whole thing to be something similar to a
painting work of art where the painter initially creates something to express
themself but later if the work is good it simply becomes a traded commodity,
which in itself is a reflection on the original value of the work.  Very basic
questions are raised here. The fundamental communal effort that is involved in
such a concept raises issues of socialism and communism versus the issues of
capitalism. I am sure there has been deeper discussion of these points by far
greater minds than mine and that I am hardly qualified to expound.  It has
been shown in the past that communal efforts are doomed to fail, their
champions carry the day for a while but then grow old and weary and rarely is
a new champion found for more than a gereration or two. Is Free Software also
'tilting at windmills' I fear so but hope not. 

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