Ethical? Selling Open Source Software Like Open Office And PDFCreator...

I can understand your feelings - I used to struggle with that sort of thing too.

What I came to realise is.....

It's much better to focus on your own business and the positive things you see others doing.

There are a lot of weird people doing a lot of crazy things out there that you won't like or agree with - much better to just focus on your own stuff.

Are they just selling the software or are they adding additional value?

Selling OS software is not illegal - and as for ethical that's to each person. If they are just selling the software then I'd tend to agree with you - that's not kosher in my book. But if they're including other items then that changes the equation. Even RSM and the FSF sold open source software GNU back in the day - they charged for the tapes it came on and later the floppies and still later the CDs. Same for the old archive sites - they would put a bunch of open source and before that shareware onto media and charge for the media and the handling. Folks loved it and didn't mind paying for the convenience of getting the material - oft times a lot quicker than trying to download it from some local BBS.

I've written books on Linux and faced the same backlash back in the mid 90's that OS was and should be free. but if you add value to the equation then what's the harm? If you're just trying to make a buck at the expense of someone, well yea - that's not ok in my opinion.

Its like the argument a while back on someone charging 6500$ to install google local for a local business - that seemed outrageous to me given you can do it for free. The final verdict, IMHO, is if the buyer is happy - even after learning the software is free - then what's the issue? If you're customer is pissed off - then yep - there's an issue. And if its not your customer? What then?

This is always a great discussion. There are folks no matter what you say will always believe its a moral sin to sell open source software, others who think its A-OK no matter what, and then those like me who think it depends on the offer.

I'll go pop some corn and get ready for the discussion....
--Jack

If you are providing support it is ethical and legal IMO. Even Richard Stallman - the guy who came up with free software (gnu) - is ok with GNU being sold on DVD at a cost.

plenty of big companies are selling open source for profit (arguably adding value in fhe process).

Great. Thanks for your replies. : )

Anyone else to reply?

Thanks WF.

Yeah, I'll bite...Let's see what the GNU has to say about that:

Straight from the horses mouth. I see nothing unethical about it, so long as they are adding some value, and even if that value is just support, that is still value (and the price should reflect the level of value).

Interesting thing here is that it's being sold on ClickBank, so it's just a download - the same thing you'd get if you download it from the original source. There is no value-add like placing it on a DVD or a CD.

My question would be who successfully sells this? It must sell for a fair price to be profitable for both affiliates and the vendor.

I'd like to actually see a link to one of them (no affiliate link of course), I'm curious how the sales page is worded. Might be a valuable lesson - a sales page so good it can convince people to pay for something that was always and always will be free.

Bill

In general I find a lot of open-source projects have little documentation, you need a PhD and a weekend spare to figure out how to submit it, and there is little help available.

So... if someone takes the basic source code and provides good docs, good help, a great sales page showing you how you can benefit from it then go ahead!

I wouldn't resell open office though, that is already a great complete product and I can't see what value someone could add to that.