Post by @anhopki1@lemmy.ml

2026-11-11 19:07 UTC

While yes, I agree that software should be FOSS. I also think that people who invent something should get the freedom to choose if they want to make it FOSS or proprietary. They should get the option to make a business off of it or to just make it free. Nobody should be forced to do either and they should make the decision on their own.

Replies (1)

@XiJinpingStanAccount@lemmy.ml 2026-11-11 19:30

I disagree fundamentally. Just because you came up with an idea first does not mean you should be the sole person able to use said idea. All this does is hamper the progress of civilization. You are under no obligation to tell others how you did something, but if they also figure out how to do it then the law should not shield you from competition and people making your thing cheaper. This is especially true in the case of software where its infinitely copyable at near 0 cost. I’ve made things before. I’ve never tried to make a profit off of those things. Despite being broke myself. Because I see it as simply extortion to withhold something in exchange for money. The only way I’d ever monetize something digital is to give it out for free and ask for donations if people feel like it and it helps them. Something physical is slightly different as it costs money to make more of them, but I still disagree with the idea that you’d be able to ban others from using a technology just because you happened to patent it first.

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