Toolkit

Story: Twenty years of free software: What now?

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Anonymous said :

"'Free' in 'free software' means 'free as in freedom', not 'free as in beer'. That means you have the freedom to look at it and find out how it works, and to distribute it to others for them to do the same. It is not about monetary cost. You are allowed to sell 'free' software for a fee. (But you can't prevent others from giving it away.)"

With respect, I think the point has been missed by this poster.

I posted about computer games. They take millions of pounds in development costs. Obviously the companies investing in this only do so to make a return on their capital.

Why would they do this if the first person who bought the game could GIVE it to all their friends?

They wouldn't, and the free/open source market cannot compete with the production values of the professional games market. (Not least things like licensing of films/TV shows, using actual actors voices plus their likenesses, etc, all need to be paid for).

As I said, proprietary and paid for software DOES have its place, however laudable the aims of free software are.

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