Sale of "free" stuff on eBay

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Date: Thu Nov 25 15:49:49 2004

>
> On Thu, 25 Nov 2004, Tony Duell wrote:
>
> > A couple of days ago somebody on this list mentioned they were having
> > PCBs made for a DEC KM11 (maintenance board) clone based on my design.
> > And that they intended to sell said PCBs and/or kits.
> >
> > Now, for the record, I was never asked if I minded about this. I never
> > gave permission. To be honest, I _don't_ mind. I prodcued that design
> > initially to get my own 11/45 running, and shared it with the world in
> > the hope that it would keep a few more machines going. And if somebody
> > wants to make PCBs for it, fine, go ahead. I am not going to stop you.
> > But do you think I should have been asked first?
>
> I guess it comes down to how you want to be paid for your work.

I do not expect to be paid for the hacks I produce... It is the way of
the world, at least in the UK. Entertainers get paid (I included
sportsmen here, their job seems to be to entertain a subset of the
population). Hackers do not get paid.

>
> Some people, like you, are content to remain anonymous perhaps. You enjoy
> the credit when you receive it, but you don't go seeking it. You are
> content that what you've done helped humanity in general.

However, I would object -- most strongly -- if my name/credits were
removed from anything I'd put out for distribution. I would object if
somebody tried to claim my work as their own. So far this has never
happened, in fact people here and elsewhere have been (IMHO) more than
generous in mentioning my name if they used my work.

> otherwise. As creators or producers of a work, they are entitled to that.

I would agree with that. The thing I have a minor problem with is people
who release their work for free download (so that anyone can grab a copy
and in general the author doesn't know who has taken it) but who won't
allow it to appear on CD-ROMs that are then sold for not that much money.
Provided their name/credits remain intact, and that the producer of the
CD-ROM doesn't try to prevent it being freely downloaded as well, I can't
see the problem.

-tony
Received on Thu Nov 25 2004 - 15:49:49 GMT