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by davexunit 3865 days ago
You are incorrect. "Open Source" is a well-defined term.

http://opensource.org/osd

1 comments

The phrase itself originally came from the free software movement. The practice pre-dated it. Former is philosophical meaning with strings attached, the latter is a literal definition with many forms. I'm using the latter.

I'd be up for considering a new term to avoid confusion. Paid, non-profit or for-profit, models allow for most benefits of OSS if structured correctly. So, the new phrase must allow for that. I've been calling it "proprietary OSS" or "paid OSS."

>Former is philosophical meaning with strings attached, the latter is a literal definition with many forms. I'm using the latter.

You can't just change the meaning of the term and expect everyone to know you mean this alternate definition. "Open Source" is as defined by the OSI, and not whatever loose definition that you use that includes proprietary software.

>I've been calling it "proprietary OSS" or "paid OSS."

"Proprietary OSS" does not make sense given the definition of OSS! The phrase you should be using is "proprietary software."

"You can't just change the meaning of the term and expect everyone to know you mean this alternate definition. "Open Source" is as defined by the OSI, and not whatever loose definition that you use that includes proprietary software."

I've already agreed with you and dragonwriter on that. dragonwriter suggested "shared source" as a start. Might go with that temporarily.

""Proprietary OSS" does not make sense given the definition of OSS! The phrase you should be using is "proprietary software.""

Starting now. Proprietary, shared-source software would make sense and can have most benefits of OSS. Just calling it proprietary software, though, instantly conveys the image of something closed source, for money, not allowing modifications, and with tons of risk. So, I can't just call an OSS-like, but paid, model proprietary due to public perception much like I apparently can't use "proprietary OSS" for same reason.

Hence, need for new terms. Especially one that captures the spirit of OSS with change that distribution/use is paid to some degree in some way, either money or code/doc contributions. Will re-write my old essay, though, as you two got to the bottom of one of its problems.

>Especially one that captures the spirit of OSS with change that distribution/use is paid to some degree in some way

This illustrates yet another confusion about FOSS. There's nothing in either the Free Software or Open Source definitions that says that a fee cannot be charged for software. You can charge money for free software!

Both OSI link I was given here and FSF require free redistribution and derivatives. That's contrary to paid, shared-source without qualifiers that ensure flow of money. Reason being, the first to pay for it could give it for free to everyone and leave them with no reason to pay. Defeats the whole concept.

The payment has to be mandatory, done with licensing, and increase with use somehow to maintain few advantages of proprietary software. Open to any models that can leave off one or more of these with consistent effectiveness as my goal is exploration.