Re: [xmlvm-users] Using xmlvm in a commercial product

[Inderjeet S. <ind...@gm...>]

On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 3:35 PM, Arno Puder<ar...@pu...> wrote:
>
> I understand that this is a touchy issue and there are arguments for and
> against either way. In my earlier days I began an Open Source CORBA
> implementation called MICO (mico.org). Very early on there was a similar
> request to change the license for MICO from GPL to LGPL. Since we complied,
> that surely spurred commercial usage. What made me a little bit sad is that
> we never received anything in return from those companies. When we asked
> them for a simple endorsement (we didn't even ask for funding back then), we
> got no reply. The only company ever to acknowledge that they used MICO was
> the Weather Channel.
>
> Quite frankly, if you plan to use XMLVM in a purely Open Source project, why
> is the type of Open Source license important? Inder mentioned that he just
> wants to tinker with the project and he is basically by himself. I wonder
> why GPL isn't good enough for this.

GPL doesn't work even for applications that I give away for free.
Since GPL requires that I open-source my application code under the
same license. I am not willing to do so in this case.


> Don't get me wrong. I certainly would like to see XMLVM grow and thrive. But
> at the same time I don't want to give in as easily as I did with MICO. I
> still believe it is only fair to give something in return. Open Source
> developers do (through their work) but companies often only take but never
> give back (never mind the handful of high-profile Open Source projects).

Sure, I understand your concerns and would respect the decision you
make. All I am saying is that there is need for such a project for
commercial applications, and if you prohibit it, other solutions will
emerge.


> What is a good way to 'encourage' a company to return to the Open Source
> community?

Are you open to non-monetary contributions? For example, I would be
open to merging my code for java2objc project with xmlvm if you guys
were open to changing your license and were interesting in using
bits-and-pieces of my code. (Technically, you are welcome to take my
code and use it anyway since I am releasing it under ASL. But in the
other case, I will also be happy to contribute some integration
effort). Also, if you did open up your license, people like me could
use it and may be contribute with our programming skills.

Regarding monetary contributions: can you come up with a scheme around
services and support? May be larger companies who are developing
mobile games will bite?

Thanks
Inder