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Removed some specific company names from here, particularly because the

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information is somewhat out of date.
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Bradley M. Kuhn 2014-03-20 21:00:02 -04:00
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@ -4238,8 +4238,8 @@ equivalents.
Using Free Software in house is certainly helpful, but a thriving Using Free Software in house is certainly helpful, but a thriving
market for Free Software-oriented business models also exists. There is the market for Free Software-oriented business models also exists. There is the
traditional model of selling copies of Free Software distributions. traditional model of selling copies of Free Software distributions.
Many companies, including IBM and Red Hat, make substantial revenue Many companies make substantial revenue
from this model. IBM primarily chooses this model because they have from this model. Some choose this model because they have
found that for higher-end hardware, the cost of the profit made from found that for higher-end hardware, the cost of the profit made from
proprietary software licensing fees is negligible. The real profit is proprietary software licensing fees is negligible. The real profit is
in the hardware, but it is essential that software be stable, reliable in the hardware, but it is essential that software be stable, reliable
@ -4248,7 +4248,7 @@ it. Free Software, and GPL'd software in particular (because IBM can
be assured that proprietary versions of the same software will not be assured that proprietary versions of the same software will not
exists to compete on their hardware) is the right choice. exists to compete on their hardware) is the right choice.
Red Hat has actually found that a ``convenience fee'' for Free Software, For example, charging a ``convenience fee'' for Free Software,
when set at a reasonable price (around \$60 or so), can produce some when set at a reasonable price (around \$60 or so), can produce some
profit. Even though Red Hat's system is fully downloadable on their profit. Even though Red Hat's system is fully downloadable on their
Web site, people still go to local computer stores and buy copies of their Web site, people still go to local computer stores and buy copies of their
@ -4268,8 +4268,7 @@ for GCC --- mostly consisting of new ports of GCC to different or new,
embedded targets. Eventually, Cygnus was so successful that embedded targets. Eventually, Cygnus was so successful that
it was purchased by Red Hat where it remains a profitable division. it was purchased by Red Hat where it remains a profitable division.
However, there are very small companies like CodeSourcery, as well as However, there are very small companies that compete in
other medium-sized companies like MontaVista and OpenTV that compete in
this space. Because the code-base is protect by GPL, it creates and this space. Because the code-base is protect by GPL, it creates and
demands industry trust. Companies can cooperate on the software and demands industry trust. Companies can cooperate on the software and
improve it for everyone. Meanwhile, companies who rely on GCC for their improve it for everyone. Meanwhile, companies who rely on GCC for their
@ -4288,7 +4287,7 @@ discussed earlier in this tutorial, a copyright holder is permitted under
copyright law to license a software system under her copyright as many copyright law to license a software system under her copyright as many
different ways as she likes to as many different parties as she wishes. different ways as she likes to as many different parties as she wishes.
Some companies, such as Oracle, use this to their Some companies use this to their
financial advantage with regard to a GPL'd code base. The standard financial advantage with regard to a GPL'd code base. The standard
version is available from the company under the terms of the GPL\@. version is available from the company under the terms of the GPL\@.
However, parties can purchase separate proprietary software licensing for However, parties can purchase separate proprietary software licensing for