Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 21:22:40 PDT
   From: Chris Maeda <maeda@parc.xerox.com>

   I don't see how this works.  If Russ charges the same as everyone
   else to sell the hardware then he is giving his labor away.  If he
   charges more, then someone can undercut him.  What if the driver
   get distributed for free and people buy the hardware from the 
   bargain basement mail order houses (like they do now for everything 
   else)?

I disaggree.  As I stated originally, he is not giving his labor away,
he is adding value to the hardware that he is selling.  This is not
the same thing.  In addition to the added value (which in effect means
that his hardware prices are, in fact, lower), there is the benifit
that Russ mentioned of the free advertising aspect.  I cannot say
enough about this, since almost all of my consulting gigs have come
about based upon my reputation, and the ability to have viewed my
previous work.

Brian


   At 08:24 PM 6/10/96 PDT, nelson@crynwr.com wrote:
   >Brian J. Fox writes:
   >
   > > This is all well and good, but what I don't understand is why you feel
   > > compelled to make the driver for this hardware proprietery.  If the
   > > item you are writing a driver for is neat enough for me to want to buy
   > > it, and you are charging the same as anyone else who is selling it,
   > > I'll buy it from you, because I know that you are one in the best
   > > position to deliver the newest and best driver for this product.
   >
   >Yes, I think that both of these points, plus the free advertising
   >that comes of giving away your software, are sufficient for me to
   >make the driver GPL'ed.