[thelist] Copyright ownership under LGPL

[Ken Schaefer]

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From: "Edwin Martin" <edwin at bitstorm.org>
Subject: Re: [thelist] Copyright ownership under LGPL


: > 2) avoid "subsidizing" the development of future websites in which I
: >    might reuse code that I used in his website
:
: Strange. He thinks that if he buys Windows XP he is not
: subsidizing the development of Longhorn or even the next
: version of the X-Box?
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Well, with Windows you're only buying a licence, not property. That's just a
little nitpick. However, the main point is that your purchase of Windows XP
isn't subsidising a subsequent customer's purchase. IE the first person to
buy WindowsXP pays $1 billion, and all subsequent customers pay $10 (cost of
CD + shipping + 10% margin).

Microsoft (and many other companies) have a business model of:
a) manufacturing some software absorbing the upfront cost, and then
b) aiming to sell/licence it to "x" customers (whatever's in the business
plan) and spliting the costs in (a) amongst several/many potential customers

On the other hand, David's client seems to think he's getting something
"brand new" and "unique", and doesn't want to be paying upfront for the
entire development time *if* David's then going to reuse the code and sell
it cheaper to the next customer, eg:
- ClientA pays $10,000 to have the system built from scratch
- ClientB only pays $1000 to have the same system because David reuses the
code was developed when building ClientA's system (with some minor cosmetic
work)

When you look at it in that sense, I don't think it's "strange"

Cheers
Ken