Rather naive, Mr. Pogson, rather naive. Perhaps “in the old days” that was true, but I am sure that you are not so old to have seen any such days.

Creators of FLOSS do protect their software by using GPL and other FLOSS licences. These licences prevent Big Brother from claiming the software and keeping it hidden. If Big Brother distributes the software with modifications they are required to distribute the source code. That keeps the software free as the creator intended. Those who create non-free software are entitled to use it as they see fit but not to force me or anyone shopping retail to use it. There are millions of Free Software developers whose rights are protected by the FLOSS licences. That is their choice and I do have a right to use that software if I obtain a copy containing the grant of licence. In principle, one could create FLOSS and never distribute it but that would be useless. FLOSS is meant to be distributed. You should know that by now, oldman.

The principle has been repeated here endlessly. Why not one more time… Creators of FLOSS are entitled to use FLOSS libraries and other FLOSS source code in order to make it easier to write their software. In return they must release their modifications if they distribute modified software. That is their responsibility and it gives me the right to use such software. Linus said it best, “It sounds unfair: get nine hours of work for doing one hour. But it obviously is not.” The nine hours he spoke about is the Free Software a creator of Free Software gets to use in his work. The one hour is his work which he is paid by one of many means including the fun of it and learning the trade. It’s exactly the same as an apprentice working with a master for five years at a low rate to learn a trade. It’s not stealing from the apprentice. He get’s a bargain. The world benefits from the presence of skilled tradesmen without having to pay a cent to train them. Everyone benefits from FLOSS.

My apologies perhaps I should read Robert Pogson’s posts more carefully.

I just thought he was an advocate for FOSS not a person who saw it as his right to that software.

Using what you have been given for free is not the issue, assuming that you have a right to what is not freely given just because it is software is the issue.

As far as I can see Robert Pogson thinks that he has the right to “breathe free software” He thinks that software creators have no right to protect what they have created if they choose to do so. He insists that he has a right to just use what is not his, and benefit from others work without compensating them That makes him a parasite in my eyes.

him a parasite in my

I have no trouble believing it, but that fact is irrelevant to my point.

“Just think, Tim Berners Lee did not see the point in patenting the world wide web.”

That was his legally protected choice. Other have chosen to benefit from their creations by patenting and then licensing them.

“In case you are interested here is a link:
http://www.techspot.com/news/47386-tim-berners-lee-defends-the-open-web-from-patent-threat.html”

What does this have to do with the point that I was making? If the parent is stands, then this gentlemen will reap a windfall from his creation. What is wrong with that?

Are we all parasites because we use it everyday.?

“Correct me if I am wrong but you cannot tell me that the patent system especially the way it is applied in the USA is promoting innovation, let alone benefitting consumers.”

It is the law of the land. Those US citizens who disagree with it are free to work to change it – many are trying to do so. But in the interim it is what it is.

Remember nobody has an inherent right to some one else s property.

“Remember it is you and I that pay for this in the long run.”

That may in the end be the price of freedom.

Believe it or not there are people in this world who do contribute to the greater good.
Just think, Tim Berners Lee did not see the point in patenting the world wide web.

In case you are interested here is a link:
http://www.techspot.com/news/47386-tim-berners-lee-defends-the-open-web-from-patent-threat.html

Are we all parasites because we use it everyday.?

Correct me if I am wrong but you cannot tell me that the patent system especially the way it is applied in the USA is promoting innovation, let alone benefitting consumers.

Remember it is you and I that pay for this in the long run.

Neither are they going to enslave their most creative people for the free benefit of parasites like you Pog.

You have zero entitlements to someone else s work.

False. Patents exist to promote technology and to make it easy to copy/use the developments of others. In the old days this was very appropriate for machinery and such that took years to develop and could provide employment for a lifetime. Now that technology is produced and discarded like tissue-paper, it is questionable that the term of patents should be the same for stuff that can be produced in weeks and whose lifetime may be just a few years, but the reason for patents is to promote technology not to keep it hidden. That’s whey full disclosure is a requirement. That’s why closed source software should not be patentable, ever.

US Constitution: “to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;”

Neither the US nor any other country has much interest in making a few people rich. It’s a government for the people, not for the few. The idea is to make the world a better place.

Key word Others. MS is not alone releasing a device OS this year. Mozilla is releasing one so is the old Meego crew.

Clarence Moon
“The road to success in product marketing is paved with product differentiation that makes one’s product compare more favorably to some market segment based on the same set of criteria than a competitor’s product.”
Ok so you mean a iMac wait that bombed in the end. Worked for a while.

Idevices got into the market before Android did. So got it self some rolling speed. The problem is if it will be able to keep that going.

Clarence Moon you can only market stuff so much before a person goes hey I can do this cheaper using competitor.

Really I think Apple is about to kick self in nuts. They are changing the idevice docking port.

There is nothing about comparative product marketing that negates using whatever barriers to market entry exist that are useful to contain one’s competitors, Mr. Pogson. Do you seriously think that a company like Apple who is the recognized leader in the industry should make it easier for others to follow behind?

Patents, trade secrets, and copyrights exist for the very purpose of precluding followers from gaining a foothold in one’s domain.

pile of marketing crap

Your attitude is showing, Mr. Pogson! It is blinding you to the light of understanding.