Comment Re:Why doesn't RMS bother with other professions? (Score 1) 528
Strictly speaking, if you can't modify it, you don't really own it,
you're simply getting a service, not a product. Every example you cite
is a service that you temporarily take advantage of, not a product. I
can't modify a hotel room, leased car, bus, rented or borrowed DVD, or
cable TV box because I don't own those items. However, a DVD, book, car,
or house that I purchase I'm free to modify (within the bounds of
appropriate public laws, naturally).
So what's wrong with calling software a service?
What's wrong will selling software that can't be modified?
The same thing that is wrong with selling cars, books, or houses that can't be modified. We're moving toward a society were we don't own anything, where you live at the mercy of those holding the power.
It's not clear to me that lack of material ownership of items necessarily implies "living at the mercy of others."
I may not own the house in which I live, nor the car I drive, nor the restaurant where I dine nor even the tuxedo I wear to parties, yet you would be hard pressed to assert that I "live at the mercy of others." Indeed, when it comes to competing for the cash in our pockets, we may observe that it is businesses who live at the mercy of the consumer.
Because I can modify my car, if I own a Delorian, I can make or purchase replacement parts even though the original company is long defunct.
If you want to be able to modify the source code of a product, nothing stops you from asking the vendor for it. If you can't negotiate a deal with them, you can ask other vendors, or write the software yourself. Just like automobiles, there are (s/w development) kits available.
If my software's provider goes out of business, well, I'm out of luck.
You can purchase the rights to the code. When businesses fail, assets are typically liquidated.
If I need new functionality, but the provider isn't interested in providing it, I'm out of luck.
As I mentioned above, you can approach other vendors or develop the software yourself.
The current technique of "selling a product", then changing the sale of a product into a license when you install it is a cruel joke that only persists because everyone ignores it.
Agreed. Software isn't really a "product" in the common sense of the word as it's sold like a service.
So what's wrong with calling software a service?
What's wrong will selling software that can't be modified?
The same thing that is wrong with selling cars, books, or houses that can't be modified. We're moving toward a society were we don't own anything, where you live at the mercy of those holding the power.
It's not clear to me that lack of material ownership of items necessarily implies "living at the mercy of others."
I may not own the house in which I live, nor the car I drive, nor the restaurant where I dine nor even the tuxedo I wear to parties, yet you would be hard pressed to assert that I "live at the mercy of others." Indeed, when it comes to competing for the cash in our pockets, we may observe that it is businesses who live at the mercy of the consumer.
Because I can modify my car, if I own a Delorian, I can make or purchase replacement parts even though the original company is long defunct.
If you want to be able to modify the source code of a product, nothing stops you from asking the vendor for it. If you can't negotiate a deal with them, you can ask other vendors, or write the software yourself. Just like automobiles, there are (s/w development) kits available.
If my software's provider goes out of business, well, I'm out of luck.
You can purchase the rights to the code. When businesses fail, assets are typically liquidated.
If I need new functionality, but the provider isn't interested in providing it, I'm out of luck.
As I mentioned above, you can approach other vendors or develop the software yourself.
The current technique of "selling a product", then changing the sale of a product into a license when you install it is a cruel joke that only persists because everyone ignores it.
Agreed. Software isn't really a "product" in the common sense of the word as it's sold like a service.
