[Discuss] discuss Digest, Vol 9, Issue 29

[malcolm stanley]

A primary need of individuals is access to designs and other intellectual
property which they are not capable of producing on their own, to use as a
catalyst and a crutch for their own activities.

_________________________________________
malcolm stanley

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Read my blog at http://soaringhorse.blogspot.com
_________________________________________


On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 6:28 PM, Tom Igoe <tom.igoe at gmail.com> wrote:

> Can you clarify this a bit Matt?
>
>
> On Feb 28, 2013, at 5:39 PM, Matt Maier wrote:
>
> For one standard to catch on it would have to be valuable to an awful lot
> of different entities with different goals and different contexts. I
> suspect that's not going to happen. Why? Because...
>
>
>>
>> It's clear that the needs of businesses are different than the needs of
>> individuals, and I think most of the resultant thread(s) are on their way
>> to establishing what businesses can do.
>>
>> Cameron
>>
> ...of this question. We've already identified two groups with obviously
> different needs. Businesses have to pull in at least enough money to cover
> their costs and risks; individuals don't.
>
>
> What *do* individuals need?  The minute you  start selling something, you
> face the same risks and liabilities and opportunities as any other
> business,  Even if you put something out there publicly for someone else to
> use, you face the liabilities, unless you state the conditions under which
> you approve use of your design, and the limit of your responsibilities for
> that use.
>
> Ideally, I'd like to see a definition *and* legal instruments that support
> individuals who choose to do either of these things (publish and sell, or
> publish and not sell), so that they have access to the same privileges and
> protections as any size business.
>
> The need to generate a certain level of profit has to override other
> priorities. If it doesn't the business will simply disappear. If being
> "totally open" conflicts with "minimally profitable" then profit will have
> to win. Individuals can try to coerce and encourage businesses to be as
> open as possible, but at the end of the day their priorities are
> fundamentally different.
>
>
> So what are individuals' priorities and needs in an OSHW definition? What
> will an individual use it for, other than debate?
>
> t.
>
>
>
>
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>
>
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