News: Free and open source software violates Microsoft patents

In the article by Mary Jo Foley, Microsoft: Free and open source software violates 283 Microsoft patents, it demonstrated again why intellectual property licenses could be rewritten to take care of this. For example, when I wrote the MIS specification license, I took the initiative to make it available for free for non-commercial projects from the start. By doing that, some did say that I would indirectly benefit from free projects by helping making it a standard(can't pleased them all). My intentions were and are still sincere. I look at it the another way when I wrote the license. If commercial applications started using it first, then free projects would had to pay to get the documentation or reverse engineer the specification with trials and errors. I resolved that too by making the documentation available for free. I also look a other licenses and I decided to make it affordable even for small developer(e.g. shareware). Many licenses asked for a few thousands/year plus royalties. Me, I ask for a $50/year(with 5000 unites included) with $0.01/unit up to $0.05/unit for royalties. A freeware or open source application would not have to pay me anything but a new standalone DVD player or media center application could cost just 1 to 5 cents more. It's a far cry from the $0.50 to $5.00 for supporting other intellectual properties. Don't get me wrong, but developing intellectual property cost more time and money than people realize, I know first hand ;). What may look simple could have taken months before it's finalize.I just hope that Microsoft go easy but Linux is a different business model. How many business servers are using it! Microsoft and others should take a page from me the next time they write their license ;) In the end, people will try to find a free solution first and pay if none match their needs. What do you think?
Keywords: Business, Entrepreneurship, Linux, Money, News, Technology


6 Comments

Right on target!

It's in the works. Last week, I send proposals to many manufacturers that make DVD or hard drive based media player. Do you have one in mind? If so, you could contact them to show your interest.

Not really. The first to get one out will get my money :D

No trouble!

Thanks!

I know I won't get rich but I'm not greedy either ;)

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