Re: Economics and the GPL

On Mon, 10 Jun 2002, Matt Seitz wrote:

> I think this is an excellent distinction to make.  Tactics that are 
> perfectly appropriate in a competitive marketplace may become 
> inappropriate if one becomes a monopoly (a distinction that Microsoft and 
> its supporters either don't grasp or choose to ignore).  The question 
> then becomes:  what is the best way to prevent an xGPL project from 
> becoming a destructive monopoly?

That's exactly the question I've been asking myself for a while now.

I'm not sure what the answer is.  I don't think Stallman can be trusted to 
rein in the GPL, though it's in his power, even if it becomes a destructive 
monopoly, because it wouldn't be destroying what HE cares about.

Most importantly, how can one adress this danger without coming to be 
viewed as an "enemy" by GPL adherents?

Deven