[Animus7]

The reason this has no chance of working with open source software is the same reason DRM doesn't work.

If you cripple your version of the software, the next guy to figure out how to uncripple it will release his version, and everyone moves over to that. And your deliberately broken version dies the death it deserves.

That's on top of the fact that breaking your software deliberately until someone pays is pretty much the opposite of FOSS philosophy anyway.

[redthrowaway]

Or you could make it compile fine and ask for a nominal donation for the binaries. For those who are willing to give up a couple bucks for the convenience and to show their support, it might be an attractive option.

I can't say it'll work but it's nice to see people experimenting with new monetization schemes.

[jason_slack]

Good point. There are surely ways around all the ways to distribute the IP under this model.