[Novalug] [Ma-linux] [FOSE] Starting the discussion

[Serge Wroclawski]

On Sun, Oct 05, 2008 at 10:08:28AM -0400, Jay Hart wrote:
> 
> > I think a banner that say"s Free Beer" will get a lot of foot traffic
> > and a great lead in to stories that explain the different licencing
> > models......
> >
> 
> Let me ask you this, do you think that Cisco or Oracle or Microsoft spend one
> minute of their time talking about their different license models?  Thats a
> sales thing, not a product demo thing.

I have two responses to this.

First, no one is talking about a banner saying "Learn about licensing models". I am saying that in place of the word "Open 
Source" you replace it with FLOSS or use Free and Open Source. That's all, so let's stay on track.

Seondly, regarding your analogy: Cisco, Oracle and Microsoft have a fundementally different 
objective than we do. They're looking for you to spend money with them. We're looking to change minds. They have people who are 
paid to be there in order to be there.

> I think we NEED to stay away from explaining the different license models.

Good, we're in agreement on this issue.

> Show the people the different apps that can solve problems, let them worry
> about the license. We ARE NOT lawyers so we can't say for 100% certainty that

Microsoft will sell them a solution to solve thier problem, so will Oracle, Novell or any other vendor. That's what vendors do- 
they sell you a "solution" (this is the new market-speak, vendors no longer sell products, they sell "solutions").

What is Tux selling? It's selling control. Control over your own equipment, over what your computers do for you. It's also 
selling freedom, freedom over who you choose as a vendor, freedom to walk away from someone you don't like and work with 
someone else. Freedom to make the programs do what you want.

That's something Microsoft, Oracle and the others can't sell, and that's the core difference.

- Serge