Re: [Fsfe-uk] Free Software Magazine got cheaper

[Ian Lynch]

On Sat, 2005-03-12 at 20:04, Jason Clifford wrote:
> On Sat, 12 Mar 2005, Lee Braiden wrote:
> 
> > > So are *you* offering to finance the costs of producing and distriubuting
> > > the magazine to make this possible?
> > 
> > No, but as a member of the free software community, I'd offer to write an 
> > article once in a while, and if maybe to mirror a public distribution site 
> > or 
> > at least to run a bittorrent seed.  The only time you need corporate-style 
> > finances and resources is when you choose to be a top-down distribution and 
> > enforcement organisation.  To me, that's not what free software is about.
> 
> The magazine is not software. It's a different form of product.
> 
> In order to happen there are costs that have to be paid - 
> writing, production and distribution cost real money. Even if you base the 
> magazine on gratis article submissions you have to edit, typeset and 
> layout the magazine. Then you have to pay for the print run and shipping 
> costs for the magazine or hosting and bandwidth for the online version.
> 
> The fact of the matter is that there are significant costs involved and 
> they have to be paid by someone. Charging a reasonable cover price deals 
> with this. As I indicated before the alternative is for someone to 
> guarantee funding and I don't see that happening.

I agree. Just because I advocate Free software it doesn't mean I believe
everything else in all circumstances should be free. As for corporate
style finance, bear in mind that OOo, probably the biggest FLOSS project
in the world is currently corporately financed.

My belief is we need revenue streams from other sources to fund FLOSS
projects if there really is to become a revolution where FLOSS becomes
the norm. Jason is doing this. I'm trying to with the INGOTs. It will
take a bit of time but I think we will get there.
-- 
Ian Lynch <address@hidden>
ZMS Ltd